The biggest takeaway from the exit poll results is that the difference in vote share between the Grand Alliance and the NDA is not more than 2-4 per cent.
Chanakya is the only one that stands at the opposite end of the spectrum, giving the NDA 144 -166 seats. The halfway mark in the Bihar assembly is 122 and absolute majority is 162 seats. So if Chanakya does get it right, the NDA could well be forming the next government in Bihar.
At the other end of the exit poll spectrum is the ABP that gives the NDA 108 seats and the Grand Alliance 130 seats.
Will Nitish Kumar retain his throne or will the Modi wave send him to the Opposition benches in the Bihar Assembly? We will know when votes are counted this Sunday, November 8.
“No matter who comes to power, this is a victory for the voter because they have voted for development. Their vote was either for Nitish’s development or Modi’s proposed development,” says Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor of Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU).
Both Sides Say Confident of Two-thirds Majority
It is common for politicians to appear confident during elections. And irrespective of what the exit polls indicate, our politicians seem to be keeping this tradition alive.
JDU chief Sharad Yadav says he is confident that the Grand Alliance will get two-thirds majority and form the government.
BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain has the same prediction for the NDA.
BJP President Amit Shah currently at 7 Race Course Road to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after exit poll results are announced. Amit Shah retweeted Chanakya’s exit poll figures which give NDA the edge.
Hits and Misses by NDA and the Grand Alliance
“If Chanakya is right, it means both ‘mandalisation’ & ‘polarisation’ worked for BJP,” Neerja Chowdhury tells Times Now.
Chanakya had given 144-166 seats to the NDA and 64-92 to the Grand Alliance.
Senior journalist Sankarshan Thakur says, “The Bihar campaign has been a huge opportunity missed by the Congress party. They were the tail of a strong coalition. I think the fewer the Congress’ rallies, the better the alliance would do”.