Janata Dal got a decisive victory in the state; political manoeuvre ensured Lalu Prasad Yadav's victory in the chief ministership.

The either side of this power struggle was led by Backward Castes.

It was the election in which the Forward Castes were pushed to margins in the politics of state.

[2] In 1997, due to allegation related to Fodder Scam, a leadership revolt surfaced in Janata Dal, consequently Lalu broke away from Janata Dal and formed a new political party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

[3] He handed over the reins of Bihar to his wife Rabri Devi to ensure his de facto rule, who won the trust vote with support from Rashtriya Janata Dal (136), the Congress (28), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (S), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (M), the Jharkhand People's Party (20) and independents (10).