Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
NEW DELHI: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) celebrated with evident jubilation on Tuesday, while those from the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) struck a dismissive tone, after exit polls following the second and final phase of polling in Bihar predicted a sweeping victory for the ruling coalition. “Exit polls are not accurate. They are only a speculation. It indicates what might happen. It would not be right to think that they are accurate,” Congress MP Tariq Anwar, whose party is a constituent of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led MGB, told news agency ANI. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate expressed confidence that the MGB would emerge victorious. “My personal view is that we don’t comment on exit polls — we will speak when the actual results are out. However, Bihar will teach a lesson because its right to vote has been manipulated. I am confident that the Mahagathbandhan will form the government,” Shrinate said. Meanwhile, Umesh Singh Kushwaha of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) — a key constituent of the NDA — thanked voters for reaffirming their faith in the alliance. “I thank the people of Bihar for putting a stamp on chief minister Nitish Kumar’s good governance and development. I congratulate the chief minister — there is a wave of support for the NDA across the state,” Kushwaha stated. Union minister Nityanand Rai of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — a senior NDA ally alongside the JD(U) — described the “record” voter turnout as a reflection of the people’s trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the alliance. Of the state’s 243 assembly constituencies, polling for 122 seats was conducted in the second phase, while voting for the remaining 121 seats took place in the first round on November 6.Exit polls, it must be noted, are not always accurate. The counting of votes is scheduled for Friday.