Bihar Assembly Sees Zero Independent MLAs for the First Time in Decades

Patna: The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have set a new political record: for the first time in the state’s history, not a single independent candidate has won a seat in the legislative assembly. At one point, the Bihar Assembly had as many as 30 independent MLAs, but this number has steadily declined over the years, reaching zero in the latest elections.

The results highlight a clear trend among voters favoring the two main political alliances – the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). This polarization left no room for independents to secure a victory, though some independent candidates did make a notable impact in their respective constituencies.

Four independent candidates finished as runners-up in their constituencies, including Ritu Jaiswal (65,455 votes) and Firoz Ahmed (50,029 votes), both of whom were supported by the Mahagathbandhan. Other independents like Ganesh Bharti (49,244 votes) and Ravishankar Paswan (57,538 votes) also performed well but fell short of winning.

Historically, independent MLAs were a significant force in Bihar politics. In 1990, under Lalu Prasad Yadav’s leadership, there were 30 independents in the assembly. By 1995, this number had reduced to 11, rebounded to 20 in the 2000 elections, and then gradually declined in subsequent years: 17 in February 2005, 10 in October 2005, 6 in 2010, 4 in 2015, and only 1 in 2020. That sole independent MLA, Sumit Singh, had later joined Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. This year, however, even Sumit Singh contested on a JDU ticket and lost, leaving Bihar’s assembly entirely devoid of independent representation.

Political analysts say this marks a historic shift in Bihar’s electoral landscape, signaling stronger consolidation around major parties and alliances, with little space left for third-party or independent candidates.