Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reacted sharply to the Bihar Assembly outcome on Friday, calling the mandate “unexpected” and asserting that the electoral playing field was never level. In a message posted on X, Gandhi thanked voters who backed the Mahagathbandhan and said the alliance fell short in a contest that, according to him, lacked fairness from the outset.

The NDA secured a sweeping lead, crossing the 200-seat mark in the 243-member House, with the BJP registering an exceptionally high strike rate and emerging as the largest party.

Gandhi stated that the loss would now be followed by a detailed internal review within the Congress and the wider INDIA bloc. He stressed that the larger struggle safeguarding constitutional values and democratic processes remained unchanged for the Opposition.

Analysis: Gandhi’s comments reflect the opposition’s growing frustration over successive defeats in key states. For voters in Bihar, the INDIA bloc’s promised review could determine whether it can reorganise itself effectively before future polls. Politically, this reaction also sets the tone for a more combative narrative in Parliament and on the campaign trail as national parties recalibrate ahead of upcoming state elections.