Patna: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to return to power in Bihar after the two-phase assembly elections held earlier this month, according to at least eleven exit polls released this week. While most surveys projected a clear victory for the NDA, one exit poll suggests a closely contested race.
The NDA – comprising the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought re-election, banking on the 20-year rule of Nitish Kumar in the state. The opposition Mahagathbandhan - comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress party – sought votes based on anti-incumbency, misgovernance, and job promises in the elections held on November 6 and 11.
The Axis My India Exit Poll predicted that the NDA would be ahead of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, but the RJD would emerge as the single-largest party when results for the Assembly polls are announced on November 14. Axis My India predicted the NDA to win between 121-141 seats, and the Mahagathbandhan 98-118 seats. It gave 0-2 seats to the Jan Suraaj.
While the Matrize Exit Poll forecast the NDA likely getting between 147-167 seats, the Mahagathbandhan 70-90, and the Jan Suraaj between 0-2 seats, Dainik Bhaskar predicted 145-160 seats for the NDA and 73-91 for the Mahagathbandhan.
The People's Insight predicted 133-148 seats for the NDA, 87-102 for the Mahagathbandhan and 0-2 for Jan Suraaj. The People's Pulse gave 133-159 seats to the NDA, 75-101 to the Mahagathbandhan, and 0-5 to Prashant Kishore's party.
The JVC forecast 135-150 seats for the NDA and 88-103 for the Mahagathbandhan. The Polstrat predicted 133-148 seats for the NDA and 87-102 for the Mahagathbandhan. While the Chanakya Strategies gave the NDA 130-138 seats, 100-108 to the Mahagathbandhan, and zero to Jan Suraaj, pollster P-Marq predicted the NDA to win 142-162 seats, the Mahagathbandhan 80-98 and Jan Suraaj 1-4.
The majority mark in the 243-member Assembly is 122. Bihar on Tuesday (November 10) recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 67.14%, provisionally, at the close of polling in the second and final phase of the high-stakes elections.
