Bihar Exit Polls Predict NDA Victory as Opposition Questions Results

Exit polls for the Bihar Assembly elections indicate a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), though opposition parties have raised concerns about the projections ahead of Friday's official results.

NDA Leaders Express Confidence

Union Minister Nityanand Rai welcomed the exit poll predictions, stating that the people of Bihar had provided their "seal of approval for the NDA government." He attributed the projected success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's influence and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's governance record.

"In Bihar, the influence of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name and work, along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's wave of good governance, is evident," Rai commented to ANI news agency.

Polling Predictions Show Narrow Victory

Multiple polling agencies have projected an NDA victory in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, where 122 seats constitute a majority. Axis My India predicted the NDA would secure between 121 to 141 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan opposition alliance would obtain 98 to 118 seats.

Other pollsters showed more comfortable margins for the ruling alliance. People's Pulse projected 133-159 seats for the NDA and 75-101 for the Mahagathbandhan. Today's Chanakya predicted the strongest NDA performance with 148-172 seats.

Opposition Challenges Poll Credibility

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate, disputed the exit poll findings. He claimed his party's internal assessment showed the BJP and NDA were "nervous and anxious" about the election outcome.

Yadav pointed to high voter turnout during the second phase of polling, noting that "people stood in long queues during voting" and remained at polling stations until evening hours.

Congress leaders also expressed skepticism about the projections. General Secretary K.C. Venugopal referenced the recent Haryana Assembly elections, where exit polls incorrectly predicted a Congress landslide, urging patience for official results.

Congress MP Digvijaya Singh went further, suggesting potential irregularities if the NDA margin exceeds 140 seats, citing concerns about voter lists and electronic voting machines.

Electoral Context

The Bihar elections represent a significant test for both the ruling NDA alliance and the opposition coalition. The state's political landscape has historically been competitive, with governance and development issues playing crucial roles in voter decisions.

Official results are scheduled for release on Friday, which will definitively resolve the current speculation surrounding these exit poll projections.