Bihar Elections Results HIGHLIGHTS: NDA to form govt with absolute majority, RJD single largest party in this electoral cliffhanger

Even as NDA crosses as the magic number, Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD has accused the Nitish Kumar govt of pressuring poll officials to withhold results on 10 seats won by the GA.
BJP workers hold a banner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture to celebrate their party's lead in the Bihar Assembly polls at BJP HQ in New Delhi Tuesday Nov. 10 2020. (Photo | PTI)
BJP workers hold a banner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture to celebrate their party's lead in the Bihar Assembly polls at BJP HQ in New Delhi Tuesday Nov. 10 2020. (Photo | PTI)

                                        

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.

NDA wins absolute majority in Bihar, RJD emerges single-largest party

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.

Party wise results at 02:30 AM, 6 seats undeclared

  • The NDA requires two more seats to form government, they're leading in 5
  • Tejashwi Yadav's RJD has emerged as single largest party with 74 seats, leading in 1 more
  • Grand Alliance has secured 110 seats so far
  • LJP, BSP get 1 seat each
  • AIMIM spring biggest surprise, wins in 5 constituencies
  • Show of strength by Left parties (victory in 16 seats, split between 3 parties)
  • WATCH | BJP workers celebrate in Patna

    LJP's vote share has increased, will benefit in future, says Chirag Paswan

    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

    Final tally in another hour: Election Commission

    This is the 4th press meet by Election Commission of India on the counting day.

    Excerpts:

  • Results declared in 223 seats
  • Counting of votes is still continuing, 66 rounds so far completed
  • Final tally in another hour or so
  • NDA set to form govt, won because of PM Modi's leadership: BJP Bihar unit chief

    "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

    CM called officials to manipulate results, says RJD

    Nearly 7 lakh voters of Bihar have so far used NOTA option: EC data

    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)

    People of Bihar chose development over casteism, appeasement: Amit Shah

    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

    BJP calls election in favour but ECI data show 41 seats undeclared

    Here's the Election commission data at 00:15 am:

    EC to address press meet at 01:00 AM

    The Election Commission of India will address one more press meet at 01:00 AM.

    Celebration and Jubilation for AIMIM

    PM Modi congratulates people of Bihar for supporting NDA

    RJD raises more claims of pressure of EC officials by Nitish Kumar

    'not under pressure': ECI

    Postal ballot in Munger Assembly cancelled, 4 EVMS not counted: RJD

    Postal ballot of our candidate is being cancelled forcibly from the Munger Assembly and four EVMs are not being counted: RJD

    Results have been declared in 146 seats: ECI

    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:

  • 146 seats results are out.
  • Recounting will happen in few seats
  • VIP chief Mukesh Sahni lost rom Simari Bakhtiyarpur

    Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni. (Photo| PTI)
    Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni. (Photo| PTI)

    RJD, Congress leaders call on ECI, accuse officials of rigging

    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.

    Those calling us vote-cutter have got 'befitting' reply, says AIMIM

    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)

    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wins from Raghopur seat

    Grand Alliance CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav won from Raghopur by more than 27,000 votes defeating BJP candidate Satish Kumar Yadav.

    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (Photo | PTI)
    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav (Photo | PTI)

    Amit Shah calls Nitish Kumar

    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)

    We have been declared winners in 119 seats, returning officer refusing to give certificate: RJD raises rigging allegations

    WATCH | Why is counting for Bihar Assembly Elections taking so long this time?

    Firecrackers outside Owaisi's house in Hyderabad after party wins its first seats in Bihar

    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.

    3.4 crore votes of 4.11 crore votes counted by 8 pm: Election Commission

    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.

    'Bihar government putting pressure on district administrations to restrict the Grand Alliance to under 110 seats'

    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.

    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.

    Ace shooter Shreyasi Singh wins from Jamui

    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.

    Shreyasi Singh sure can continue to smile. (PHOTO: Praveen Negi, EPS)
    Shreyasi Singh sure can continue to smile. (PHOTO: Praveen Negi, EPS)

    BJP leaders meeting Nitish Kumar

    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.

    Result day a 'golden opportunity' for vendors at Tejashwi's house

    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)

    Results for 20 seats announced

  • BJP - 6
  • RJD - 6
  • JD(U) - 2
  • Congress - 2
  • Vikassheel Insaan Party - 2
  • AIMIM - 1
  • CPI(M) - 1
  • NDA leading on 123 seats Mahagathbandhan on 112 seats AIMIM on 4 seats BSP on 1 seat Independents on 2

    Bihar bypoll update

    JDU candidate Sunil Kumar wins the by-election of Lok Sabha Valmiki Nagar seat by 30,612 votes defeating Congress' Pravesh Mishra.

    LJP sinks but brings JD(U) down with it

    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.

    RJD's bigwigs face defeat

    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)

    BJP workers celebrate in Delhi

    RJD now overtakes BJP as single largest party

    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?

    JDU workers celebrate in Patna

    CM calling officers to slow down counting: RJD

    "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.

    Tej Pratap Yadav wins Hasanpur

    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.

    Both the Yadav brothers leading comfortably

    Tejashwi Yadav is leading with 9317 votes from Raghopur, while his elder brother- Tej Pratap is leading with 13199 votes from Hasanpur.

    Close flight between BJP, RJD

    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.

    No dispute regarding NDA leader in Bihar: State BJP chief

    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 has used MIM in Bihar polls: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    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

    RJD, BJP, and JD (U) win two seats each so far, Vikassheel Insaan Party wins one: EC

    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

    TNIE Twitter Moments on Bihar poll results

    BJP wins Darbhanga seat

    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's Lesi Singh wins

    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."

    LJP records its first win from Dinara seat

    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.

    Party-wise vote share till 4 PM

    Mahagathbandhan will form the next Bihar govt: RJD

    EC declares first result of Bihar polls

    RJD's Lalit Yadav wins Darbhanga Rural

  • NDA leading on 129 - BJP 73, JDU 49, VIP 5, HAM 2
  • Mahagathbandhan ahead on 103 - RJD 64 (1 seat won) Congress 20, Left 18
  • BSP leading on 2
  • AIMIM on 4,
  • LJP on 1
  • independents on 4
  • Plurals Party chief alleges rigging

    Anant Singh wins Mokama

    Jailed gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh has won by defeating JDU candidate from Mokama, with 50 per cent vote share.

    NOTA gets 1.85% votes in Tejashwi's bastion

    In Tejashwi Yadav's constituency Raghopur, NOTA has drawn 1.86 per cent votes. Yadav, however, is leading with a margin of 7000 votes.

    WATCH| Will NDA manage to hold on to the lead?

    AIMIM leading in 2 seats

    Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen which contested on 14 seats is now leading in two of them.

    Diatribe begins over 'EVM hack'

    Hope, disappointment as trends show NDA lead

    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)

    EVMS tamper-proof: EC

    Rebutting Congress leader's allegations on EVM tampering, the Election Commission said that EVMs are absolutely tamper-proof, which has been clarified several times.

    Party-wise vote share till 1.30PM

    As BJP hopes to maintain lead, members celebrate

    A little over one crore votes counted in Bihar in a 'glitch-free' process, says Election Commission

  • Needless to say that there has been an absolutely glitch-free counting process so far. Slightly more than 1 crore votes have been counted in Bihar which means that there is significant ground to be covered yet.
  • As per law, all postal ballots received till 8 am today are to be taken up for counting. It means postal ballots received at counting centres till at 8 am today need to be taken up for counting. Data related to it will be available at the level of concerned returning officer.
  • Counting for Bihar assembly polls to continue till late tonight; over one crore votes counted so far.
  • Counting will take extra time due to 63 pc more EVMs than 2015 Bihar polls as COVID-19 protocol needed additional polling booths
  • It has been clarified time & again that EVMs are robust & tamper-proof. Supreme Court upheld integrity of EVMs more than once. EC had also offered EVM challenge in 2017. Integrity of EVMs is without any doubt & merits no further clarification, says deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain
  • RJD's Tejashwi leads with over 3900 votes in Raghopur

    Totally glitch-free counting till now: BC

    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.

    Silent and strong women backing helping Nitish?

    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.

    LJP leading in only 1 seat

    Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party, which fought solo after breaking alliance with NDA, is now leading in only one seat.

    Masks and sanitizers: Counting votes amid pandemic

    (Photo| ANI)

    Left leading in 19 seats

    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.

    Only 20% votes counted so far

    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.

    Nitish ji to be CM: JDU state chief

    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.

    Congress leader Udit Raj alleges 'EVM hack'

    Party-wise vote share till 12.30 PM

    Neck-and-neck in several seats

    After 8th round of counting, candidates in over 60 constituencies are fighting neck-and-neck with a difference of less than1000 votes.

    Anant Singh takes lead

    Gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh is leading from the Mokama constituency with over 8000 votes.

    Celebrations have begun for BJP

    BJP workers in a jubilant mood outside the party office as NDA maintains the lead. (Photo| ANI)

    CPIML leading in 13 seats

    The CPI (ML), a part of the RJD-led Mahagatbandhan, is leading in 13 out of the 19 seats it contested.

    Women voters still backing Nitish?

    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.

    EC to hold presser

    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.

    Election Commission trends

    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.

    Bihar election results in the wake of COVID

    Election officials count votes at a centre on counting day of Bihar Assembly polls in Patna Tuesday. (Photo | PTI)
    Election officials count votes at a centre on counting day of Bihar Assembly polls in Patna Tuesday. (Photo | PTI)

    Congress prepares to avoid a Rajasthan-like crisis

    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.

    Anti-incumbency factor worked against Nitish govt: Expert

    "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.

    NDA comfortably crosses majority-mark

    According to the first few rounds of counting, the NDA is leading in over 123 seats, comfortably crossing the magic number - 122.

    Meanwhile COVID toll mounts to 1,27,059

    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.

    Liquor ban made a dent in NDA's vote bank?

    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.

    NDA takes the lead

    The NDA is now leading in 125 seats renewing Nitish Kumar's hope for another term in the Chief Minister's office.

    Tej Pratap trailing

    RJD's Tej Pratap Yadav is now trailing behind JDU's Raj Kumar Ray from Hasanpur seat.

    KC Tyagi concedes defeat

    Janata Dal (United) Secretary KC Tyagi concedes defeat on live TV.

    NDA, Mahagatbandhan neck-and-neck again

    After the first round of counting, the NDA and the RJD led Mahagatbandhan are leading on 112 and 114 seats respectively.

    Fish for good luck

    RJD workers stand with fish, a symbol of auspicousness and happiness, outside Tejashwi Yadav's residence. (Photo | Ranjit K Dey, EPS)
    RJD workers stand with fish, a symbol of auspicousness and happiness, outside Tejashwi Yadav's residence. (Photo | Ranjit K Dey, EPS)

    Security beefed up around RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's house

    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.

    'Sidelining Chirag Paswan was not acceptable to people'

    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 leads on eight seats

    Nitish or Young Yadav: Bihar awaits election results with bated breath

    People gather outside a counting centre in Patna (L); a group of locals huddle around a smartphone to check the early trends of the Bihar assembly election results. (Photos | Ranjit K Dey)
    People gather outside a counting centre in Patna (L); a group of locals huddle around a smartphone to check the early trends of the Bihar assembly election results. (Photos | Ranjit K Dey)

    Will exit poll trends hold?

    RJD-led Mahagathbandhan will sweep Bihar: Party spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary

    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.

    CPML missing from EC result page

    Nothing fishy here!

    Supporters of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav wait outside his residence as counting of votes continue. (Photo| ANI)

    LJP no show

    So far the Chirag Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party has not taken lead in any seat.

    Tejashwi Yadav takes lead

    Tejashwi Yadav has taken lead in ballot paper counting from Raghopur in Vaishali.

    Tej Pratap takes lead

    Tej Pratap Yadav leading from Hassanpur in Samastipur seat.

    Hung Assembly in the making?

    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.

    Early leads

    The RJD-led Mahagatbandhan takes lead on 7 seats, while the NDA is leading in 6.

    NDA takes lead

    NDA takes the lead in postal ballot paper counting from Farbisganj in Araria.

    Counting begins

    Counting of votes begins for 243-member Bihar Assembly and by-polls to 58 Assembly seats across 11 states.

    The curious case of Chirag Paswan

    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)”.

    Benipatti candidate succumbs to COVID-19

    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)

    Strong rooms being opened for counting

    Muslim votes hold key in Seemanchal region

    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.

    Ladoo milega tum ko bhi: RJD buoyant ahead of results

    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.

    For Tejashwi Yadav, it’s a direct fight against Modi

    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)

    High-profile candidates

  • Tejaswi Yadav - former deputy chief minister and Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate.
  • Tej Pratap - sitting MLA from Mahua assembly in Vaishali district, was in the fray from Hasanpur assembly seat this time.
  • Jitan Ram Manjhi -Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief and former chief minister contested the poll from the Imamganj seat.
  • Vijay Kumar Choudhary - Bihar Assembly Speaker fought the elections from the Sarairanjan seat.
  • 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.

  • Voter turnout

    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.

    Where Nitish Kumar failed to deliver

    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)

    Everything you need to know about alliances

    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.

    First state elections amid pandemic

    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.

    Nitish-Modi 'double engine' faces derailment risk

    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.

    Here's what the exit polls predicted

    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 from 8 am

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