The exit polls were categorical - giving an edge to the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. The actual polls have not been, but as the fag end of counting began, the NDA has begun to pull ahead of the Mahagathbandhan.
But it has been a see-sawing battle and the final tallying might only happen late night. The big question then is will Tejashwi do a Biden on Nitish and the NDA by the time all the results come in?
The Bihar assembly elections for 243 sets took place on October 28 (for 71 seats), November 3 (for 94 seats) and November 7 (for 78 seats).
Late night drama behold people of Bihar in order to find out the winner as the counting reaches last few rounds, RJD has raised rigging allegations saying the party has won in 119 seats but ECI is not issuing certificates.
The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes. The poll panel had set up 55 counting centres in 414 halls, spread across all the 38 districts of the state.
Face masks had been made mandatory for those arriving at counting centres. This apart, hand sanitisers were kept in abundance at the centres.
Election officials and district administrations had also prepared themselves for the daunting task of restraining supporters of political parties from crowding the counting centres amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won an absolute majority in Bihar, winning 122 seats in a closely contested election that saw counting continue stretching over 19 hours and wrapping up only in the early hours on Wednesday.
#WATCH Bihar: BJP workers celebrate in Patna as the latest trends show their party leading in #BiharElectionResults.
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
Visuals of BJP workers & supporters bursting crackers outside party office in the state capital. https://t.co/foAtKw2tML pic.twitter.com/w9RlbYAiRv
Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan described the Bihar polls results as a "victory" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the people have shown their trust in him.
"All LJP candidates fought gloriously on their own without any alliance. The party's vote share has increased. It had gone to the polls with the resolve of 'Bihar first Bihari first'. It has been strengthened in every district. This is bound to benefit the party in the future," he said, while thanking people.
The LJP received 5. 68 per cent of votes while contesting on nearly 140 seats in the elections to the 243-seat Bihar assembly. - PTI
This is the 4th press meet by Election Commission of India on the counting day.
Excerpts:
"The NDA won because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its pro-poor policies. People have reposed faith in his leadership," Jaiswal told PTI.
He said the National Democratic Alliance is set to form the government in Bihar as it has won 121 seats and is leading on four other seats with a comfortable margin.
The Bihar assembly has a total strength of 243 members with a majority mark of 122 seats. - PTI
??????? 4-5 ???? ?? ????? tally ?? 122 ?? ????????? ?? 96-100 ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ????????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??????????? ???? ?? ???-??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????????????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ???
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
According to figures released by the EC, 6,89,135 people or 1.69 per cent of the voters so far have opted for the option whereby they preferred not to vote for any candidate while exercising their democratic right. (READ MORE)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday complimented the people of Bihar for electing the NDA in the just concluded assembly elections, saying the people of the state have chosen development over "hollow politics, casteism and appeasement".
"Every section of Bihar has once again chosen the development of NDA by denying hollow politics, casteism and appeasement politics. I thank all the brothers and sisters of the state from the core of my heart for re-choosing development, progress and good governance. I especially thank the youth and women who formed the NDA government with absolute majority by choosing security and a bright future in Bihar," he said. - PTI
Here's the Election commission data at 00:15 am:
The Election Commission of India will address one more press meet at 01:00 AM.
"#Seemanchal is one of the most backward areas in Bihar & we will ensure that the promises are met," said AIMIM Chief #AsaduddinOwaisi after winning five seats in the region.#BiharResults #BiharElectionResults2020 @khogensingh1 @hajipurrajesh @santwana99
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 10, 2020
Express Video pic.twitter.com/VAqzrTPozG
????? ??? ????-??????? ?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ???@BJP4Bihar ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???????????? ?? ??? ??????-?????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????, ?? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???????????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ????
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 10, 2020
???? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ????????? ?? 2400 ??? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ????? 113 ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? https://t.co/jm8DMLZ6WJ
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
Election Commission has never worked under anybody's pressure. All officials and machinery are working sincerely for declaration of #BiharElectionResults2020: Umesh Sinha, Secretary-General, ECI. pic.twitter.com/F0bahYF4Tz
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
Postal ballot of our candidate is being cancelled forcibly from the Munger Assembly and four EVMs are not being counted: RJD
?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? EVM ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
The Election Commmission, in a late night press meet, said that they've looked at the complaints raised and reassured that all the counting is happening as per protocol.
Excerpts:
RJD leaders going to ECI office in a delegation accusing the administration of different districts that the results many GA have been withheld.
Earlier, the party's twitter handle released a list of declaring RJD candidates as winners in 119 seats and said returning officers have resfused to give certificates.
Ahead of the polling in the third phase of the polls, the Congress had dubbed the AIMIM as the BJP's "B-team" and had accused the party of colluding with the BJP.
Meanwhile, AIMIM national spokesperson Asim Waqar told that a final decision on who AIMIM could back in case of a hung assembly will be taken by Owaisi. (READ MORE)
It is a great moment for us that people of Bihar have honoured us with so many votes: AIMIM chief #Owaisi after his party won two seats in #BiharElectionResults & is leading in two others. #BiharElectionResults2020 pic.twitter.com/jhoSqriW5z
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 10, 2020
Grand Alliance CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav won from Raghopur by more than 27,000 votes defeating BJP candidate Satish Kumar Yadav.
The BJP has outperformed ally JD(U) which has triggered speculations in some quarters if Kumar will still be the chief minister or somebody from the saffron party will lead the coalition government in the state. (READ MORE)
?? ?? 119 ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ????????? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ??? ????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ECI ?? ??????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?????? pic.twitter.com/puUvIagyDz
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
There were big celebrations outside Asaduddin Owaisi's residence in Hyderabad after his party the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in its second try in the Bihar elections won two seats. They are leading in three other seats, according to the Election Commission of India website.
The Election Commission had finished counting 3.40 crore votes till 8 pm, ANI reported. We are in the fag end of what has been a long election results day. NDA are ahead, but only just in what has been a closely-fought battle.
Is the counting of votes getting delayed in Bihar? The RJD believes so. They have accused the Bihar government of engineering delays in counting of votes in 10 seats and also tweeted the accusation that there is pressure from the government on district administration officials to ensure the RJD-led Grand Alliance doesn't get past the 105-110 seat mark.
????? ?????, ????? ???? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ????????????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ????????? ?? ???? ?? 105-110 ????? ?? ?????
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
???? ?? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??????
So, how many votes have been counted till now? The last official update from the Election Commission was at 5:30 pm when they announced that around 2.7 crores out of total 4.11 crore votes had been counted, according to ANI.
29-year-old ace shooter and the Arjuna-awardee Shreyasi Singh, the first woman Commonwealth Games gold medallist (shotgun) from India, has won the Jamui seat on the BJP ticket. She had gone into the election in high spirits, telling The New Indian Express that "Josh is high! And I will win the seat by hitting bull eye of opponent with the blessings of people." Her faith was not misplaced.
BJP leaders are at CM Nitish Kumar's residence, our correspondent reports. It sure must be an interesting conversation. What must they be discussing during a night when the Bihar is witnessing an increasingly tight race?
Earlier in the evening, Home Minister Amit Shah too had called up Nitish, according to reports.
From ice cream vendors to sugarcane juice sellers, even mobile shops near the residence reaped profit due to the increased numbers at the site. (READ MORE)
NDA leading on 123 seats Mahagathbandhan on 112 seats AIMIM on 4 seats BSP on 1 seat Independents on 2
JDU candidate Sunil Kumar wins the by-election of Lok Sabha Valmiki Nagar seat by 30,612 votes defeating Congress' Pravesh Mishra.
With polling trends on Tuesday showing Janata Dal (United) underperforming in a big way, Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan appeared to be succeeding in damaging Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led party by playing a major role in its poor show in many seats.
Top RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui and Lalu Prasad's man Friday Bhola Yadav lost to their BJP rivals on Keoti and Hayaghat seats respectively in Darbhanga district after results were declared Tuesday. (READ MORE)
With the NDA leading in over 120 seats in #BiharElection2020, BJP workers gathered at the party headquarters in New Delhi to celebrate. #BiharElectionResults
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 10, 2020
Express Video | @Shekharyadav02 @TheMornStandard @khogensingh1 pic.twitter.com/XpyzrLfrbG
The RJD has ovetaken the BJP by a whisker to emerge as the single-largest party in the state. Is Tejashwi Yadav going to do a Biden on the NDA towards the end?
#WATCH Bihar: JD(U) workers celebrate in Patna as officials trends show NDA leading in #BiharElectionResults, with 123 seats. pic.twitter.com/DalGz8lBga
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
"Bihar is going to get its own government and nobody can stop it. I request Chief Minister whose exit is confirmed, to stop calling returning officers to slow down the counting of votes. He can only delay his defeat," said RJD leader Manoj Jha.
Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav registers victory with almost 45 per cent vote share from Hasanpur. The RJD leader has defeated JD(U)'s Raj Kumar Ray.
Tejashwi Yadav is leading with 9317 votes from Raghopur, while his elder brother- Tej Pratap is leading with 13199 votes from Hasanpur.
It is a close fight between the BJP (which has emerged as the single largest party) and the RJD in Bihar. While the BJP is leading in 73 seats, the RJD is leading in 67.
The BJP has so far won 3 seats and the RJD 2.
BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal said there is no dispute regarding who will lead the government if the alliance returns to power in the state. A party or a coalition requires 122 seats to form the government in Bihar. "The issue has been cleared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief J P Nadda much before the elections," he said, while responding to a query whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will lead the NDA government if the alliance secures a majority in the assembly.
Without naming RJD leader and Grand Alliance chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, Jaiswal took a swipe at him, saying, "People are intelligent enough to distinguish between truth and falsehood."
(With PTI inputs)
BJP's tact of using (Asaduddin) Owaisi Sahab's party in the Bihar elections has succeeded to an extent. All secular parties should be alert about vote cutter Owaisi Sahab: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
NDA leading on 124 seats
Mahagathbandhan leading on 109 seats
AIMIM leading on 4 seats
BSP leading on 2 seats
LJP leading on 1 seat
Independents leading on 3 seats
??NDA moving past the half-way majority mark in #BiharElection2020 have given #NitishKumar & the ruling combine hopes of securing a renewed mandate. Follow LIVE coverage of #BiharResults here????@gsvasu_TNIE @khogensingh1 @hajipurrajesh https://t.co/gVEdjixEMo
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 10, 2020
BJP leader Sanjay Saraogi has won the Darbhanga seat defeating RJD's Amar Nath Gami by over 10,000 votes, Returning Officer Thiyagrajan SM said Tuesday. Saraogi(50) had won the seat in the 2015 assembly election too with a margin of 7,460 votes. The election was held in the seat in the last phase of Bihar assembly polls on November 7.
JDU candidate Leshi Singh has won from Purnia's Dhamdhaha seat. While canvassing for Singh, Bihar CM had said, "All is well that ends well."
Rajendra Singh of Lok Janshakti Party defeats JDU's Jai Kumar Singh from Dinara seat in Rohtas, reports TNIE correspondent Rajesh K Thakur.
It is a high-profile constituency since Singh had left BJP to join LJP.
?? ??? ????????? ?? ??????????? ?? ???????????? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ????????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ?????
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) November 10, 2020
RJD's Lalit Yadav wins Darbhanga Rural
BJP RIGGED THE ELECTION. PLURALS VOTES TRANSFERRED TO NDA ON ALL BOOTHS.
— Pushpam Priya Choudhary (@pushpampc13) November 10, 2020
Jailed gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh has won by defeating JDU candidate from Mokama, with 50 per cent vote share.
In Tejashwi Yadav's constituency Raghopur, NOTA has drawn 1.86 per cent votes. Yadav, however, is leading with a margin of 7000 votes.
Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen which contested on 14 seats is now leading in two of them.
After enjoying exit pol results for 48 hours GOP @INCIndia gets into its fullime job of blaming EVMs .
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) November 10, 2020
Bihar BJP spokesman Sanjay Singh Tiger said the BJP-JD(U) coalition has worked under the "double engine" governments -- NDA dispensations at the Centre as well in the state and the people of Bihar have blessed it. (READ MORE)
Rebutting Congress leader's allegations on EVM tampering, the Election Commission said that EVMs are absolutely tamper-proof, which has been clarified several times.
Elated with the NDA moving past the half-way majority mark in #BiharElectionResults, women workers of BJP are celebrating at the party office by playing Holi. #BiharElection2020
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 10, 2020
Photo | Ranjit K Dey pic.twitter.com/XPoS6V4Zmc
@TheMornStandard @NewIndianXpress Tejashwi Yadav leads in 6th round in Raghopur Assembly constituency by 3972 votes
— Rajesh K Thakur (@hajipurrajesh) November 10, 2020
It has been a "totally glitch-free counting till now", Ashish Kundra, Bihar's Deputy Election Commissioner said after a little over 1/5th of the votes have been counted.
Ram Jha of Kamtaul village under Kurhandi Assembly seat in Muzaffarpur in no psephologist. But he has a theory on why Nitish Kumar and the NDA combine will return to power.
According to Jha, male voters were definitely unhappy with Nitish, but the CM managed to keep his women voter base intact. The women voted silently for him even against the wish of their husbands.
Though the BJP is set to get more number of seats, Nitish Kumar is set to return as CM for a fourth term.
Around 80 lakh polled votes - 20% of the around 4.30 crore polled votes - have been counted, said HR Shrinivas, chief electoral officer Bihar.
The counting could go to 35 rounds, so the first clear results could be out later in the afternoon, said officials.
Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party, which fought solo after breaking alliance with NDA, is now leading in only one seat.
The Left parties which include CPI, CPI(M) and the CPI(ML) are collectively leading in 19 seats. As a part of the Mahagatbandhan, the Left has fielded candidates in 29 seats.
Around 80 lakh polled votes have been counted, that's 20 per cent of the around 4.30 crore total votes cast, said HR Shrinivas, chief electoral officer Bihar.
The counting could go to 35 rounds, so the first clear results could be out later in the afternoon, said officials.
JDU state president Vashistha Narayan Singh said that the NDA government under Nitish Kumar is all set to be formed. "BJP top leaders already made it clear that Nitish Ji will be the CM, so no confusion," he told TNIE's Rajesh Thakur.
?? ???? ???? &???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?? ???? ?
— Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) November 10, 2020
After 8th round of counting, candidates in over 60 constituencies are fighting neck-and-neck with a difference of less than1000 votes.
Gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh is leading from the Mokama constituency with over 8000 votes.
BJP workers in a jubilant mood outside the party office as NDA maintains the lead. (Photo| ANI)
The CPI (ML), a part of the RJD-led Mahagatbandhan, is leading in 13 out of the 19 seats it contested.
Ram Jha of Kamtaul village under Kurhandi Assembly seat in Muzaffarpur is quite confident that NDA government of Nitish Kumar will come again in Bihar. According to Jha, male voters were definitely unhappy with Nitish, but women voters remained intact in his favour and voted silently for him even against the wish of their husbands. Even though BJP succeeded in getting more number of seats, Nitish Kumar will be the next CM of Bihar, reports Mukesh Ranjan.
Election Commission press conference to take place at 1.30 pm. Deputy Election Commissioners Sudeep Jain, Chandrabhushan Kumar, and Ashish Kundra to brief the media.
EC trends for 230 of 243 seats: NDA leading on 119 seats - BJP 61, JDU 51, Vikassheel Insaan Party 6, HAM-1 Mahagathbandhan ahead on 100 seats - RJD 62, Congress 20, Left 18 BSP and AIMIM have a lead on one seat each, LJP on five & independents on four.
In the wake of trends emerging out of Bihar, State Congress has called in prominent party leaders like Raghuji Verma, Avinash Pandey, Randeep Surjewala among others. Anticipating a Rajasthan-like crisis in the state, the legislators have been asked to move to Patna immediately after receiving certificates from their respective local authorities. Congress will be operating from Marya Hotel in Patna, sources in the party told TNIE correspondent Mukesh Ranjan.
"Lagging prominent ministers like Nand Kishore Yadav indicates that people are dissatisfied with the Nitish Kumar government. That trends also indicate that the anti-incumbency factor has also worked against Nitish Kumar government that has been in power for the last 15 years in Bihar," former journalist and political analyst Law Kumar Mishra tells TNIE correpondent Mukesh Ranjan. A concrete picture will be available only after 12.30 PM, Mishra adds.
According to the first few rounds of counting, the NDA is leading in over 123 seats, comfortably crossing the magic number - 122.
With 38,074 new COVID-19 infections, India's total cases surge to 85,91,731. With 448 new deaths, toll mounts to 1,27,059.
Mahendra Prasad, a local businessman at Motihar village in Kishanganj, is of the view that works done by Nitish during the last 15 years failed in converting votes in his favour. Moreover, the liquor ban imposed by the NDA government in 2016 backfired which had witnessed an intensive protest in the state. Liquor ban created more damage to NDA’s vote bank rather than bringing profit for it.
The NDA is now leading in 125 seats renewing Nitish Kumar's hope for another term in the Chief Minister's office.
RJD's Tej Pratap Yadav is now trailing behind JDU's Raj Kumar Ray from Hasanpur seat.
After the first round of counting, the NDA and the RJD led Mahagatbandhan are leading on 112 and 114 seats respectively.
As the results show Mahagathbandhan leading, security has been intensified around the residence of Tejashwi Yadav. Police deployed in the area keep away cheering crowds, reports TNIE correspondent from Patna Rajesh Kumar Thakur.
Lal Bacchan Paswan of Kamtaul village under the Kurhandi Assembly seat in Muzaffarpur believes that the trends coming in are on expected lines as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was bound to bear the brunt of the people for his deeds. Looking at the developmental works brought by him in the last 15 years, change was not required in Bihar at least for this term but the way he sidelined one of the oldest ally of NDA – Lok Janshakti Party in this election, it was not acceptable to the people of Bihar. Had he not sidelined Chirag Paswan, the trends would have been the other way round, reports TNIE correspondent Mukesh Ranjan.
BJP leading on 8 seats, JDU and RJD ahead on 3 seats each, Congress on 1, Vikassheel Insaan Party also ahead on one seat.#BiharElectionResults pic.twitter.com/UfkYitFpSf
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
@TheMornStandard @NewIndianXpress RJD-led gradually taking lead towards the power in Bihar with the day advancing..
— Rajesh K Thakur (@hajipurrajesh) November 10, 2020
RJD-led Mahagathbandhan is all set to sweep the state with people's trust in Tejashwi Yadav. Our party raising the jobs crisis energised the electors in this election, which certainly will be a national issue for the country, says RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari.
Dear @ECISVEEP why isn't your website for Bihar results showing CPI-ML in the list of parties? We have 3 sitting MLAs and are contesting 19 seats this time. Please correct it immediately. @SpokespersonECI @CEOBihar pic.twitter.com/p8rsApzjEa
— CPIML Liberation (@cpimlliberation) November 10, 2020
Supporters of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wait outside his residence as counting of votes continue. (Photo| ANI)
Tejashwi Yadav has taken lead in ballot paper counting from Raghopur in Vaishali.
Tej Pratap Yadav leading from Hassanpur in Samastipur seat.
??????? ??? ?????!
— Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) November 10, 2020
If morning shows the day, then based on the initial round of ballot papers counting, one can expect a neck and neck fight between the JDU-led NDA and RJD-led Grand Alliance in Bihar.
Counting of votes begins for 243-member Bihar Assembly and by-polls to 58 Assembly seats across 11 states.
Ram Vilas Paswan's death, days ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, may have come as a jolt to his grieving son, but it is also an opportunity for Chirag to lead the LJP from the fore.
This election also happens to be a litmus test for the two-time Jamui MP, who walked away from the NDA with the war cry “Modi se bair nahi, Nitish teri khair nahi (We don't have enmity with BJP, but won't spare Nitish)”.
An independent candidate contesting from the Benipatti seat in Bihar's Madhubani district has lost his life to COVID 19, ten days after contracting the infection. Niraj Kumar Jha, 45, breathed his last on the final day of polling in Bihar on Saturday. (READ MORE)
Patna: Strong room established at Anugrah Narayan College being opened, as counting of votes for Bihar Assembly elections to begin at 8 am pic.twitter.com/ezv9fOtHyF
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
The goodwill AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi enjoys among a large section of Muslims in Seemanchal, a region his party has focussed on in the Bihar assembly polls, appears unmistakable and many of them express their disaffection with the Congress for not speaking more strongly on issues like the contentious CAA.
Contesting on 24 seats in alliance with former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha-led RLSP and BSP, AIMIM has fielded candidates in a number of constituencies, especially those with a high percentage of Muslim voters in this region.
If activity in the offices of political parties is anything to go by, then the Rashtriya Janata Dal should breast the tape when the votes for the Bihar elections are counted on Tuesday.
On the face of it, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav were the two main rivals of this election. But, for the 7 crore voters in Bihar, the fight was not really between Nitish and his young challenger but between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal and Tejashwi’s promises. (READ MORE)
Luv Sinha - Shatrughan Sinha's son made an electoral debut and contested from Bankipur constituency on the Congress ticket.
SuhasiniYadav - Congress fielded the daughter of chief of Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) Sharad Yadav on Bijariganj seat in Madhepura district.
Shreyasi Singh - a national shooter and the daughter of former Union minister Digvijay Singh, was given ticket from the Jamui seat by the BJP.
Pushpam Priya Choudhary - Plurals Party chief, who declared herself as a chief ministerial candidate contested from two Assembly seats- Bisfi in Madhubani district and Bankipore seat in Patna district.
Over 7,29,27,396 electors were eligible to vote in Bihar polls and the voter turnout was at 57.05 per cent, which was 0.39 per cent higher compared to 56.66 per cent in 2015 elections.
If an example of the lack of development and infrastructure in Bihar was to be witnessed, all that is required is a visit to Aurai block, hardly 30 kilometers from the Muzaffarpur district headquarters. (READ MORE)
It all seemed a two-way fight in Bihar till LJP chief Chirag Paswan strayed from the ruling NDA and decided to go solo in the polls.
Twelve new parties including, Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad, BJP "rebel" Yashwant Sinha and Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM also lend their colour to the polls.
Bihar was the first state in India to hold elections amid the shadow of a pandemic. While the election commission issued a series of guidelines ensuring safe elections, the norms remained largely on paper.
Here's what the guidelines said.
If the exit poll projections come true, then the “double engine” that has powered Bihar since 2017 faces the danger of getting derailed.
The “double engine” refers to the combination of the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar and the NDA government at the Centre that, in their proclamation, is taking the state on the path of development.
People's Pulse said the RJD would get 85-95 seats, the BJP 65-75, JD(U) 25-35, Congress 15- 20, LJP 3-5, Left parties 3-5 seats and GDSF and Independents 5-13.
As far as the choice for Chief Minister is concerned, Tejashwi Yadav led by two per cent over the incumbent Nitish Kumar. When asked whom they prefer next Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav emerged with 36%, Nitish Kumar with 34%. (READ MORE)
Counting of votes for #BiharAssemblyPolls to take place today.
— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
Visuals from a counting centre in Patna. pic.twitter.com/Oj1Nf5loUW