Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut weighed in on the unfolding Bihar Assembly Election results on Friday, a contest that has drawn national attention. Responding to the early trends showing the Mahagathbandhan trailing far behind the NDA, Raut said the outcome should not surprise anyone, comparing the situation to last year’s Maharashtra Assembly election.
In a post on X, Raut wrote that, the result followed the same “Maharashtra pattern,” where parties expected to win were pushed to the margins. Translating his remarks, Raut argued that the Election Commission and the BJP were “working hand-in-hand,” making any other result “impossible,” and that alliances thought to be in a strong position were “cut down to under 50 seats.”
Raut’s comments draw a parallel with the 2024 Maharashtra polls, where national parties, led by the BJP, won significantly more seats than major regional outfits such as the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP factions and the MNS.
As of 2.30 pm, the numbers from Bihar showed a similar picture. The JDU-BJP-led NDA had secured a commanding position, leading in 200 plus seats, almost three-fourths of the House. The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, Congress and Left parties such as CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation and CPM, along with the Indian Inclusive Party, was ahead in only 38 seats. The alliance is being spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav.
The day’s counting trends have largely affirmed Raut’s assertion that the NDA remains firmly in control in Bihar, while the Opposition bloc is struggling to keep pace across several regions.
