Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish Kumar (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Leaders across party lines in Bihar went into overdrive on Thursday as the state prepared for the vote counting of the high-stakes assembly election on Friday that will decide whether chief minister Nitish Kumar secures a record fifth term in office.The Election Commission (EC) said elaborate arrangements have been made at 46 counting centres across 38 districts. Counting will start at 8 am on Friday, with postal ballots tallied first, followed by EVM votes from 8.30 am.A total of 4,372 counting tables have been set up, each manned by a supervisor, assistant, and micro-observer, with over 18,000 counting agents overseeing the process. The EC has deployed 243 returning officers and 243 counting observers, ensuring two-tier security: central paramilitary forces inside and state police outside each centre.The poll body said that EVMs and VVPATs are secured under a double-lock system, monitored round the clock through CCTV surveillance. “Under the presence of central observers and agents deputed by candidates, the entire process will be videographed,” the EC said.For transparency, the EC added that five polling stations per constituency will be randomly selected for VVPAT verification. Results will be updated round-wise and constituency-wise on the EC’s official portal. “The commission advises all to refer only to this portal for accurate and verified updates and not rely on any hearsay or unofficial sources,” it cautioned.
Tejashwi asks supporters to be ‘alert’
RJD leader and INDIA bloc’s CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav warned that his party workers and supporters were ready to resist “any unconstitutional activity during counting.”In a post on X, Tejashwi Yadav wrote, “I held a virtual meeting with party candidates and district office-bearers ahead of the counting. The justice-loving people of Bihar… are alert, vigilant, cautious, and fully capable, aware, and prepared with enthusiasm, hope, and confidence to deal with any kind of improper unconstitutional activity.”“Bihar and Biharis are committed to save democracy and the Constitution,” he added.However, controversy erupted after RJD leader Sunil Kumar Singh said, “People have voted for a change. Tejashwi Yadav’s government will be formed in 2025. In 2020, the counting was halted for four hours, and if something like that happens this time as well, we will see a Nepal-like situation on the streets.”
BJP slams remarks, expresses confidence
Reacting to Singh’s statement, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal said such remarks reflected the opposition’s frustration.“Ours is a government that believes in the rule of law. RJD leaders are in despair and they are insulting the public. The voters have sealed their mandate in the EVMs… The public has made up its mind to bring the NDA government back to power,” Jaiswal said.He added that senior BJP leaders were in constant touch with polling agents across the state and expected the counting process to remain peaceful.
Nitish visits JD(U) war room
On the eve of counting, CM Nitish Kumar made a surprise visit to the JD(U) headquarters in Patna to review last-minute arrangements at the party’s war room, where data teams will track real-time trends from all 243 constituencies.Nitish, who spent about ten minutes inspecting preparations, also interacted briefly with senior party functionaries before returning to his residence. His visit was seen as a display of confidence within the NDA, which has been buoyed by exit poll projections showing a comfortable majority for the alliance.
Historic turnout, high stakes
Bihar recorded a historic 67.13% voter turnout across its 243 assembly constituencies, where 7.45 crore voters decided the fate of 2,616 candidates.The NDA, comprising JD(U), BJP, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, is hoping to retain power. The INDIA bloc, led by the RJD, includes the Congress, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, and Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).Exit polls have predicted a clear victory for the NDA, much to the displeasure of the INDIA bloc, with Tejashwi Yadav asserting that the Mahagathbandhan would form the next government with a “thumping majority.”By Friday noon, Bihar will know whether Nitish Kumar has secured another term or if Tejashwi Yadav’s Grand Alliance can script an upset in the state’s fiercely contested election. Go to Source