PATNA, Nov 14: In the ongoing Bihar Assembly elections, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has surged ahead, leading in 166 out of the 243 seats as per early trends from the Election Commission. This lead surpasses the majority mark of 122, showcasing the NDA’s stronghold in the state’s political landscape.
The opposition coalition, INDIA bloc, trails significantly, currently showing leads in 59 seats. Election officials indicate that these numbers may fluctuate as counting continues, with several rounds still pending.
Within the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands out, leading in 72 seats, followed closely by Janata Dal (United) which has a lead in 71 seats. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) follows with 18, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) in four, and Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) in one seat.
On the other hand, the INDIA bloc’s performance remains under scrutiny. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is ahead in 43 seats, while Congress claims eight, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) – Liberation leads in six, and both CPI and CPI(M) each show a lead in one seat.
The emergence of new political forces also shapes this election. The Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist Prashant Kishor, along with Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) spearheaded by Mukesh Sahani, lags in all constituencies they contested, raising concerns about their influence in Bihar politics.
Among prominent candidates, the race remains tight. Khesari Lal Yadav from RJD trails in Chhapra while the BJP’s Maithili Thakur maintains a lead in Alinagar. Osama Shahab from RJD shows a strong performance leading in Ragunathpur. Simultaneously, JD(U) minister Leshi Singh holds an advantage in Dhamdaha.
Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s Chief Ministerial face, retains a lead in Raghopur. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary (in Tarapur) and Vijay Kumar Sinha (in Lakhisarai) also hold their respective leads.
However, the electoral journey is fraught with surprises, as Tej Pratap Yadav finds himself in fourth place in Mahua, with LJP(RV)’s Sanjay Kumar Singh maintaining the lead. The outcomes could significantly impact Bihar’s political narrative, shaping governance and policies in the near future.
As counting progresses, all eyes will remain on the performance of each party. With the NDA securing an early lead, the question that arises is whether the INDIA bloc can course-correct and mount a comeback as the counting nears its conclusion. The stakes are high, not just for the parties involved but for the myriad voices they represent in Bihar.
