Bihar’s make-or-break verdict today

With the election result having major repercussions on the national stage, it could actually be a make or break situation for many of Bihar’s biggest faces. 

With the results having a huge political significance, India along with leaders of both the camps — National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Grand Alliance — are in wait and watch mode. The counting for the 243 seats of the Assembly will begin at 8 am and the verdict for a majority of seats is expected by early afternoon.

Most of the exit polls have predicted a close contest between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the grand alliance of JD(U)-RJD-Congress with a slight edge over the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led grouping.

However, two of them, including Today’s Chanakya and the one done by Hansa for NDTV, have given a clear majority to the NDA.

While Kumar is not in the fray, among the prominent faces in the battle are mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has fought from two seats, and RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s two sons who have also made their electoral debut.

The five-phased elections, which started on October 12 and ended on November 5, saw the lead campaigners from both the sides trading bitter accusations that at times turned personal. 

Over a dozen FIRs were lodged by the poll authorities in Bihar against the top leaders of the two alliances relating to their alleged hate speeches. 

The accused included BJP chief Amit Shah, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav.

Modi had led the NDA charge by holding over 30 rallies while Shah held 85-odd public meetings.

A win for the saffron alliance will help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shake off the opposition attack on it over the “climate of intolerance” and embolden it to push its agenda ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.

However, a loss for it will reinvigorate the opposition ranks and help Kumar acquire a key role in national politics after he suffered a big setback in the Lok Sabha polls. A defeat for the grand alliance will deliver a body blow to the politics of Kumar and Prasad from which it may take a long time for them to recover.

As much as 56.80 per cent, the highest in Assembly election in the state’s history, of the 6.68 crore voters have exercised their franchise.

Votes are locked in 62,780 EVMs which would be counted on Sunday. A total of 14,580 officials have been put on duty for the counting process in Patna and other districts.

Fate of 3,450 candidates, including 272 women, would be disclosed in the counting. With hours left for the suspense to be lifted, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remained in his 7, Circular Road residence throughout the day.

“There is no engagement of the CM besides interacting with some people in his residence,” an official at his residence said.

BJP on Saturday expressed confidence of victory in the Bihar Assembly poll for which vote counting would be taken up on Sunday and claimed people have voted for the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We are absolutely sure of our win in Bihar. Women have voted in large numbers. Poor want development and they have confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“Different exit polls have come but they are not exact polls. In less than 24 hours, we will know the exact poll. We should wait for it,” Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar told reporters.