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Bihar election results: After Congress-RJD drubbing, Rahul questions fairness of polling process

Nitish looks set to retain power as CM. Stay tuned to ThePrint for the latest on Bihar election result. Stay tuned to ThePrint for the latest on Bihar election result.

ThePrint Team
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP HQ in Delhi | Suraj Singh Bight | ThePrint
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP HQ in Delhi | Suraj Singh Bight | ThePrint
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Nitish Kumar looks set to take oath as chief minister a tenth time, with the NDA in a comfortable lead and the Mahagathbandhan lagging far behind, as counting of votes continues in Bihar.

Polling in Bihar was held in two phases (6 and 11 November), with the state witnessing a record voter turnout of 67.13 percent—highest since 1951.

Bihar has 243 assembly seats, which makes 122 the majority mark.

Stay tuned to ThePrint for the latest on Bihar election result.

Bihar election results

9.30 pm: Rahul speaks out post-Bihar polls, questions fairness of polling process

Congress member and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said that he was surprised by the Bihar election result and questioned the authenticity of the polling process.

9.10 pm: Bihar Congress says result do not align with public feeling 

Congress President Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge says they plan to challenge the election results, “Will continue our fight against those forces that are engaged in weakening democracy by misusing constitutional institutions.”

 

8.40 pm: Bihar Congress says result do not align with public feeling 

Bihar Congress in a post on X shares doubt on the election result, saying “does not fully align with the fundamental public sentiment.”

7.55 pm: Modi sounds the bugle for Bengal poll campaign

“Bihar has paved the way for BJP’s victory in Bengal,” says the PM at BJP HQ.

7.45 pm: ‘…Muslim ‘League-y’ Maovadi Congress’

“The Congress has become the MMC…the Muslim ‘League-y’ Maovadi Congress… Congress is a liability. The Congress, with its negative press, is sinking its allies as well… I have warned the public about it even in the past. And like I had mentioned before the Bihar elections, there will soon be a rift between the Congress and the RJD”: Modi

7.40 pm: ‘People of India have lent support to NDA’

“From the financial capitals to the gramins, the people of India have lent their support to the NDA… The seats we won in this election, the Congress has not won those many in the past six polls”: Modi at BJP HQ

7.35 pm: ‘People of India want a Viksit Bharat’

7.25 pm: ‘Victory of democracy’

“Today is not just about NDA’s victory, but a victory of democracy and those who believe in it,” says Modi.

“This is the same Bihar, which was full of Maoists…where voting would end by 3 pm. But this time, voting took place without any fear… We all know what used to happen during Jungle Raj, but today that same Bihar is breaking records. During Jungle Raj there was capturing of booths and the several re-elections… Post Jungle Raj, the situation got better. Today that same soil has defeated those who do not believe in democracy…”

7.23 pm: ‘BJP’s M-Y formula’

“The BJP has given a new M-Y formula…the Mahila (female) and Youth formula… which includes people from all class, castes, etc. They have given the MGB a tough reply”—Modi at BJP HQ

7.20 pm: ‘Katta Sarkar will not return’—Modi

“When I used to talk about Jungle Raj, the RJD never minded but the Congress would get offended. But I will say it again, Katta Sarkar will not return. It will not return to Bihar,” says Modi.

7.15 pm: PM Modi speaks at BJP HQ 

“Jai Chhaithi Maiya,” Prime Minister Modi begins speaking at BJP headquarters. “The people have smashed the Opposition to smithereens, have confirmed the presence of makhaana kheer (rice pudding) in every home.”

7.10 pm: ‘MGB insulted PM Modi’s deceased mother’

“The Mahagathbandhan have insulted the people of Bihar. They have done nothing other than dividing them. They even insulted PM Modi’s deceased mother”: J.P. Nadda at BJP HQ

7.00 pm: ‘Bihar has voted for politics of governance’

BJP national president J.P. Nadda speaks at party HQ: “We welcome and thank the people of Bihar. They have voted for the politics of governance and development. They have made it clear that there is no place for Jungle Raj in Bihar.”

He adds, “You (people of Bihar) had made it clear that you would deliver a strong statement on 14 November, and today, we have witnessed your strength.”

6.45 pm: Celebrations at BJP HQ

 

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6.30 pm: Chirag Paswan’s jibe at the RJD

Chirag Paswan says that while Bihar is seeing a united NDA, the RJD is displaying arrogance by talking about taking oath even before results are out. He adds that RJD’s past gains were only because the NDA was divided, and if the NDA had been united, the RJD wouldn’t have crossed even 25 seats.

The people who were symbols of ‘jungle raj’—what they truly are and what their standing among the public is—the people of Bihar know this very well.

6.10 pm: Nitish Kumar thanks Modi for Bihar victory 

Nitish Kumar in a post on X, thanked PM Modi and the people of Bihar for their support.

5.35 pm: ‘Historic mandate inspires us to serve Bihar with even greater dedication’

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulates the “people of Bihar” and BJP workers for the NDA’s “grand and unprecedented” victory.

“The three-fourths majority received by the NDA in this election is a testament to the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, his credibility, and the unwavering trust of the people in the politics of good governance and development,” he writes on X. “This mandate inspires us to serve Bihar with even greater dedication, spirit of service, and firm resolve. The decisive victory of the NDA alliance also owes fully to the experienced leadership of the Chief Minister of the state, Shri @NitishKumar ji, and his administrative expertise.”

5.20 pm: Public mandate solely based on ‘politics of performance’—Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah takes to X to congratulate NDA leaders and workers for the alliance’s victory in Bihar. “No matter in what guise those who practice jungle raj and appeasement politics come, they will not get the opportunity to loot,” he writes. “I assure the people of Bihar and especially our mothers and sisters that with the hope and trust with which you have given this mandate to the NDA, under the leadership of Modi ji, the NDA government will fulfill it with even greater dedication.”

5.10 pm: Modi hails ‘victory of good governance, development’

Congratulating Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other NDA allies Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha ji for a “resounding victory”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a series of posts on X: “Victory of good governance has been achieved. Victory of development has been achieved. Victory of the spirit of public welfare has been achieved. Victory of social justice has been achieved. My deepest gratitude to the family members of Bihar, who have blessed the NDA with a historic and unprecedented victory in the 2025 assembly elections. This resounding public mandate will empower us to serve the people and work with new resolve for Bihar.”

5.05 pm: LJP (Ram Vilas) bags one seat, leads in 18

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) wins Govindganj.

4.55 pm: First wins for RJD, Tejashwi now leads by over 13,300 votes

RJD wins Bodh Gaya, Ujiarpur and Fatuha. Party leads in 24 seats.

Tejashwi Yadav is back in the lead after 26 out of 30 rounds of counting.

4.50 pm: BJP bags 8 seats, leads in 83

BJP wins Narkatiaganj, Lauriya, Rajnagar, Darbhanga, Baruraj and Gaya Town.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) wins Govindganj.

4.30 pm: The decimation of Congress in Bihar

The Congress party is leading in just four seats in Bihar—a state whose politics it had dominated until 1990.

The Mahagathbandhan as a whole seems to be facing a complete decimation in Bihar, as the alliance is leading on just 33 of the 243 assembly seats in the state.

While the Congress had won 19 of the 70 seats it contested in the 2020 elections, it is facing a complete rout this time.

For the party, which has seen an irreversible decline in the state over the last 35 years, this election was particularly important, as Bihar was at the centre of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Chori campaign. Gandhi had camped in Bihar for two weeks in September, in what appeared to be a yatra that could enthuse the dormant party organisation in the state.

4.10 pm: JD(U) records first wins, Anant Singh bags Mokama seat 

Janata Dal (United) wins Kalyanpur, Alauli, Harnaut, Mokama and Belaganj. Anant Kumar Singh defeats RJD’s Veena Devi by a margin of 28,206 votes.

Meanwhile, BJP wins Madhuban and Sahebganj.

4.00 pm: Mukesh Sahani fails to transfer EBC votes for Mahagathbandhan

Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani, who was declared the deputy chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, has failed to live up to expectations as his party is trailing on all 15 seats it contested, polling trends suggest.

The VIP founder comes from the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) community of the Mallahs, who constitute 2.66 percent of the Bihar population. The Mahagathbandhan brought him in its camp with the hope of denting the EBC votebank of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Born in Bihar’s Darbhanga, Sahani left Bihar at the age of 19 and moved to Mumbai, where he worked in the Hindi film industry and eventually became a set designer. His political journey began in 2010 when he formed the Sahani Samaj Kalyan Sanstha to work for his community.

In 2015, he campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but later went on to launch the VIP three years later.

3.50 pm: Tejashwi stares at big defeat

RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav trails in Raghopur by 9,705 votes against BJP’s Satish Kumar, as of 3.50 pm, after 16 out of 30 rounds of counting.

3.30 pm: Left follows in Mahagathbandhan’s trail

Losing gains it had made in the 2020 assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation is leading on just two of the 20 seats it contested in Bihar this year.

Votes counted by the Election Commission till 3.30 pm. Friday show CPI(ML)-L leading in Ghosi and Paliganj constituencies. EC data also showed the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leading in just one seat, and the Communist Party of India leading in none.

Votes counted till Friday afternoon indicate a setback for the Left. In the 2020 Bihar election, Left parties had captured 16 of the 29 seats they fought on under the Mahagathbandhan.

2.45 pm: Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) leads in 21 seats

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is leading in 21 of the 29 seats it contested this time, according to EC figures as of 2.45 pm.

In the 2020 Assembly polls, Chirag’s party had contested alone, even though he had called himself “Modiji’s Hanuman” while campaigning against the BJP’s ally, Nitish Kumar. The LJP had been instrumental in bringing the JD(U)’s tally down to 43 in the 243-member assembly. The LJP could win only one seat, though. A part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in this election, the LJP’s performance this time is being watched keenly.

Chirag’s negotiation skills were on display during the NDA’s seat-sharing talks. After several rounds of discussions with senior BJP and JD(U) leaders, he stood firm on his demands until a deal in his favour was reached. The LJP (Ram Vilas) finally got 29 seats, becoming the second largest junior ally in the alliance.

2.40 pm: Tejashwi trails

In Raghopur, the gap between BJP’s Satish Kumar and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav widens, with the Mahagathbandhan CM pick trailing by 4,829 votes, as of 2.40 pm.

2.00 pm: BJP set to win Nuapada, AAP heads for victory in Tarn Taran, Congress to clinch Jubilee Hills

1.40 pm: Celebrations at BJP HQ in Delhi

 

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1.30 pm: Prashant Kishor’s big promises meet Bihar’s reality

Poll consultant-turned-politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) seems to be in for a disappointment as it is struggling to make its presence felt.

Ahead of the polls, Kishor had campaigned across the state, conducting public rallies & roadshows which drew sizeable crowds. However, many pointed out that while the party had managed to create a buzz on the ground, voters remained sceptical about voting for the new entrant. The Jan Suraaj leader, who had made it a point to position his party as the ‘third alternative’, had urged people to think beyond ‘caste politics’ and choose a ‘clean’ government.

The party also had its fair share of drama, as days before the elections, Kishor had alleged that three of his party’s candidates had withdrawn their nominations because of pressure from the BJP. Read Neelam Pandey’s report.

1.00 pm: NDA looks set to retain power

According to current trends, the ruling alliance has taken lead in 197 seats. The Mahagathbandhan lagging far behind with leads in 40 seats. Figures as of 1 pm.

ThePrint decodes the factors behind NDA’s solid performance and the Opposition alliance’s collapse. Watch LIVE:

12.50 pm: BJP’s Devyani Rana wins Nagrota bypoll, MNF clinches Dampa

Devyani Rana of the BJP won the Nagrota assembly bypoll in J&K by a margin of 24,522 votes. She was pitted against Harsh Dev Singh of JKNPP, who received 17,661 votes, and Shamim Begum of National Conference, with 10,834 votes. Devyani is the daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana, who also served as the MLA from the same constituency until his death in October last year, which necessitated the byelection.

Dr R. Lalthangliana of the Mizo National Front (MNF) won the Dampa assembly bypoll in Mizoram by a narrow margin of 562 votes, securing 6,981 votes. His main rival was Vanlalsailova from the ruling Zoram People’s Movement, who received 6,419 votes. Voter turnout was over 83 percent in this seat.

12.30 pm: ‘Will serve my people as their daughter’

Singer and BJP candidate Maithili Thakur leads by nearly 6,800 votes after eight out of 24 rounds of voting against RJD’s Binod Mishra.

She says, “This is like a dream. People have a lot of expectations of me… This will be my first term as an MLA, and I will do my best for my constituency… I will serve my people as their daughter… I can only see Alinagar right now and how I can work them…”

12.00 pm: ‘EC remained mute spectator’

With the Mahagathbandhan looking at a defeat in the polls, Congress leader and senior observer for the state, Ashok Gehlot, has called the results “disappointing”, alleging that the Election Commission “colluded with the ruling party”, and did not take any action against rigging, cheating, booth capturing and other unfair practices.

“The kind of atmosphere I saw there—women were given Rs 10,000 each it was being given even when the Election Campaign was ongoing…EC remained a mute spectator. Why did it not stop this? It should have, but it didn’t…This means that what Rahul Gandhi said about vote chori…this is what vote chori is,” Gehlot said.

11.40 am: ‘This is a direct contest between EC & people of Bihar’

Congress leader Pawan Khera reacts to early trends. “This is a direct contest between the Election Commission of India and the people of Bihar. Let’s see who wins. I’m not even talking about parties. I’m talking about a direct, straight contest between CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the people of Bihar…”

He says, “These are just early trends, we’re waiting a bit. The initial trends certainly suggest that Gyanesh Kumar is gaining an upper hand over the people of Bihar… I can’t underestimate the people of Bihar. They have shown courage. They showed it despite the SIR. Now, let’s see in the coming hours how effective Gyanesh Kumar will be.”

11.35 am: NDA headed for landslide victory

The ruling bloc crosses the majority mark in current trends with leads in 189 seats, according to EC website.

Watch coverage of the Bihar assembly election results:

11.30 am: Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav trails in Mahua

Former Bihar minister and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s estranged son Tej Pratap Yadav is trailing in the fourth spot in Mahua seat in Vaishali district by a margin of 10,776 votes, after four out of 26 rounds of counting.

Tej Pratap, the Janshakti Janata Dal chief, had earlier expressed confidence of winning the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) stronghold. This is the same constituency from where he won in 2015 by a margin of 28,000-plus votes.

This time, his immediate rival is RJD candidate and incumbent MLA Mukesh Kumar Raushan. The other candidates in the fray are Sanjay Kumar of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Indrajeet Pradhan of the Jan Suraaj Party. Sanjay Kumar is in the lead as of 11.30 am.

The 37-year-old was banished from the RJD and the family in May. The bitterness has remained since then, with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav campaigning against his brother in Mahua. In turn, Tej Pratap landed in Raghopur constituency— where Tejashwi is contesting the polls—to campaign for his nominee Prem Kumar Yadav.

While Tejashwi reminded voters to be loyal to the party and not the family, Tej Pratap made an emotional appeal to his voters, casting himself as the elder brother who was wronged with harsh punishment.

“He is still a child. After the elections, we’ll hand him a rattle… If he goes to our area, we’ll go to his area too. Then we’ll go to Raghopur,” the elder brother had said regarding Tejashwi campaigning against him in Mahua.

11.15 am: Tejashwi trails in Raghopur

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is trailing in Raghopur by 1,273 votes against his nearest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Satish Kumar Yadav.

Tejashwi is the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan, and is hoping to be elected from the seat a third consecutive time.

A Yadav-dominated constituency, Raghopur has been the RJD first family’s pocket borough. Tejashwi’s father Lalu Prasad Yadav has won it twice, in 1995 and 2000, and his mother Rabri Devi thrice, in 2000 by-election and both times in 2005.

In fact, the constituency has remained within the family for about two decades now, except for the 2010 assembly elections, when Satish Kumar Yadav, then contesting on a Janata Dal (United) ticket, beat Rabri Devi by over 13,000 votes.

The seat came back to the RJD in 2015, when Tejashwi trounced Satish Kumar, contesting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol, by over 22,700 votes to become the deputy chief minister. In 2020, Tejashwi retained the seat, beating the same rival by over 38,000 votes.

11.10 am: Dy CM Samrat Choudhary ahead in Tarapur

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is leading by 3,327 votes in the Tarapur assembly constituency after four our of 30 rounds of counting, according to the EC website.

A Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Choudhary in the past had contested from his home district Munger. Facing a triangular contest in Tarapur, he is pitted against the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Arun Shah and Jan Suraaj Party’s Dr Santosh Singh.

Choudhary, an OBC leader, has also served as the state president of Bihar in the past. He joined the BJP in 2017 after starting his political journey with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 1999 and switching to the Janata Dal (United) in 2014. He had also served as a minister in the government headed by Rabri Devi, wife of RJD veteran Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The BJP candidate’s father Shakuni Choudhary is a founding member of the Samata Party with several stints as MLA and MP. His mother, Parvati Devi, had once represented Tarapur constituency. Choudhary in the past won two assembly elections (2000 and 2010), while he also lost twice (in 2005 and 2015).

Mewa Lal Choudhary of JD(U) is the sitting MLA from the constituency and has retained the seat in the 2015 as well as the 2020 assembly elections. The seat is considered a stronghold of the JD(U).

11.00 am: ‘Nitish Kumar hi banenge mukhyamantri’—Jitan Ram Manjhi

As NDA looks at a massive win, Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has said that they have always been confident of a thumping victory.

10.45 am: NDA takes lead in 177 seats—EC data

According to early trends, Nitish Kumar is on track to retain chief minister’s position for another term, with the ruling bloc taking lead in 177 seats. The Mahagathbandhan trails by a major gap with lead in 53 seats. Figures as of 10.45 am, according to the EC website.

10.25 am: BJP takes lead in Nuapada bypoll in Odisha

In the bypoll in Odisha’s Nuapada, BJP’s Jay Dholakia is leading by 12,815 votes. Jay is the son of late BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia. He had switched to BJP from BJD after his father’s death. Rajendra Dholakia was the sitting MLA from the Nuapada constituency.

10.20 am: BJP’s Maithili Thakur leads in Alinagar

Folk singer Maithili Thakur, the BJP candidate from Alinagar, is leading by 3,004 votes against RJD’s Binod Mishra, after two out of 24 rounds of counting. This is the 25-year-old’s political and electoral debut.

Alinagar is part of the Darbhanga district, and Thakur hails from Benipatti in the neighbouring Madhubani district, about 35 km from the Mithilanchal region in north Bihar.

Thakur had risen to fame after her performance and participation in Zee TV’s show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs’ in 2011. She was also made state icon for Bihar in 2023 by the Election Commission.

10.15 am: Osama Shahab leads in Raghunathpur

Early trends show Osama Shahab, the son of the late Mohammad Shahabuddin, leading in Raghunathpur. The 31-year-old is making his political debut on an RJD ticket.

In the 2020 elections, Harishankar Yadav won the seat for the RJD with over 42 percent of the vote share. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw strong competition, with JD(U) winning the Siwan parliamentary seat, which includes Raghunathpur, signalling shifting dynamics.

Osama’s 2025 campaign capitalised on his father’s legacy while promising development, unity, and inclusive growth. With a voter turnout of 61.45 percent, the election was a tight triangular contest reflecting the diverse community fabric, including Muslims, Yadavs, and Rajputs.

9.50 am: Akalis lead in Tarn Taran, Congress ahead in Rajasthan’s Anta

Sukhwinder Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is leading in Punjab’s Tarn Taran assembly constituency, with AAP’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu trailing her by 374 votes at the end of 3 of 16 rounds of counting.

In Rajasthan’s Anta, Congress candidate Pramod Jain is ahead after the first of 20 rounds of counting.

Early trends by the Election Commission also put Naveen Yadav of the Congress candidate ahead in Telangana’s Jubilee Hills assembly constituency after the first round of counting, with nine more rounds to go.

BJP’s Jay Dholakia is leading in Odisha’s Nuapada, and JMM’s Somesh Soren in Jharkhand’s Ghatsila. Devyani Rana of the BJP is ahead in Nagrota, one of two assembly seats in J&K where bypolls were held, while JKNC’s Aga Syed Mahmood Al-Mosavi is leading in Budgam. In Mizoram’s Dampa, Dr R Lalthangliana is ahead, according to early trends by the EC.

9.45 am: Mahagathbandhan a distant second in early trends

ECI data shows the Opposition alliance is leading in 33 seats, while NDA is inching towards victory in 102. Figures as of 9.50 am.

9.15 am: NDA leads in 41 seats—ECI data

Data from the Election Commission of India shows NDA leads in 41 seats and the Mahagathbandhan in 12, as of 9.25 am.

9.00 am: NDA leads in early trends 

Early trends, according to News18, show the NDA leads in 130 seats and the Mahagathbandhan in 66. Figures based on 201 out of 243 seats, as of 9 am.

8.30 am: BJP’s directive to all leaders

In the wake of the 10 November Red Fort blast, the Bharatiya Janata Party has issued directions to all leaders to keep celebrations low-key and to not burst firecrackers if the NDA wins today.

8.15 am: ‘A change is about to come’

Mahagathbandhan’s CM face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said he is confident that the alliance will win and form the government.

8.00 am: Counting of votes begins

The fate of candidates in all 243 constituencies across 38 districts of Bihar to be decided over the next few hours. Counting also begins for Assembly by-elections in eight constituencies across six states and 1 Union Territory.

Tight security arrangements are in place across all constituencies. Visuals from Muzaffarpur and Patna:

 

 

7.30 am: Why Bihar polls saw highest ever women voter turnout

From the Special Intensive Revision conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to women receiving Rs 10,000 under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY), a cocktail of factors in the build-up to the Bihar assembly elections has paved the way for the state to witness its highest-ever women voter turnout since Independence.

The two-phase assembly polls concluded Tuesday, with a total voter turnout of 66.91 percent, the highest ever in Bihar since 1951, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The first phase saw a turnout of 69.04 percent of women voters, compared to 61.56 percent of men voters. In the second phase, 74.03 percent of women voters cast their ballot, compared to 64.1 percent of men voters.

In all, according to provisional data released by the ECI, Bihar this assembly polls saw a record-breaking participation of women voters—71.6 percent—the highest since 1962, when the men’s and women’s voter turnouts seem to have first been taken into account.

Political commentator and psephologist Sanjay Kumar calls it a “remarkable shift in Indian politics”, saying, “We see this happening in many states, but a nine percentage point gap between men and women turnout is something we have not witnessed in the past—either in Bihar or in any other state.”

Some experts call it an “empowerment story”. The state government’s Rs 10,000 benefits to women might have been a contributing factor. Others call it a statistical outcome of the Bihar SIR by the ECI.

Read Apoorva Mandhani’s report.

7.00 am: What exit polls say

The NDA is headed for a sweeping victory in Bihar, early exit polls predicted Tuesday, with a strong showing by the Janata Dal (United) likely to help the ruling coalition deny the Mahagathbandhan a shot at power. If the projections hold, Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, written off by many and battling perceptions of poor health, appears poised to take the oath of office a tenth time.

The INDIA bloc, made up of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, CPI(ML-L) and a handful of smaller parties, may struggle to reach the three-digit mark, while Prashant Kishor’s upstart Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), which became a major talking point during the campaign, is expected to draw a blank, multiple pollsters said.

Five years ago, exit polls had tilted toward the Opposition, with several predicting that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav would end Kumar’s two-decade reign. In the end, though, Yadav fell just short, even as the RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats in the 243-member Assembly.

Some exit polls now suggest the Opposition may win even fewer seats than what the RJD alone secured in 2020, forecasting a landslide for the NDA, which includes the JD(U), BJP, LJP (Ram Vilas) and a few smaller outfits.

 

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6.30 am: Raghopur to Tarapur—key seats in play

While each of the 243 seats in Bihar will play a role in who forms the next government, a few contests are being more keenly watched than others. From Raghopur where sitting MLA Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is in the fray, to Tarapur and Lakhisarai where Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha are locked in a tough contest. Other key seats are Chapra, Alinagar, and Chanpatia, where three political novices are making their electoral debut—Bhojpuri performer Khesarilal Yadav (RJD), folk singer Maithili Thakur (BJP) and former journalist Manish Kashyap (Jan Suraaj).

Another closely watched contest is Mokama, where the ruling Janata Dal (United) has fielded local strongman Anant Kumar Singh. The seat was won by his wife in a bypoll in 2022 on an RJD ticket.

6 am: Counting of postal ballots to begin at 8 am

On Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released a press note stating that counting of postal ballots will begin at 8 am Friday, followed by EVM counting at 8.30 am.

It reiterated that counting of postal ballots is to be completed before the penultimate round of EVM counting. It also said that 4,372 counting tables have been set up across Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies where returning officers and more than 18,000 counting agents appointed by candidates will oversee the counting process.

“During EVM counting, Control Units are brought to the counting tables round-wise and shown to the counting agents to verify that the seals are intact and serial numbers match the records in Form 17C (Part I),” it explained. The poll panel added that the number of votes recorded in EVMs is cross-verified with entries in Form 17C and in case of any mismatch, “VVPAT slips from that polling station are to be counted mandatorily”.

In its press note, the EC also said that no re-polls were requested by the 2,616 candidates in the fray this time, or the 12 recognised political parties.

In the run-up to the election, poll panel had come under intense criticism over its decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which resulted in the final electoral roll comprising 7,45,26,858 electors.

Also Read: From Virat & Anushka selling sarias to dentist ads, Bihar walls tell a ‘rurbanisation’ story

 

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