Bihar Exit Polls Predict NDA Victory as Mahagathbandhan Faces Significant Decline

Patna:

Exit polls have projected a concerning outlook for the opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar, suggesting they will secure significantly fewer seats than the 110 won in 2020. According to these predictions, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, previously the single-largest party, appears to be suffering the most substantial decline, with the BJP positioned to claim that distinction this time.

It's worth noting that exit polls have historically been unreliable, particularly in Bihar where they've frequently missed the mark.

In the current scenario, nine different exit polls including Dainik Bhaskar, Matrize, People's Insight, Chanakya Strategies, and People's Pulse forecast an NDA victory with seat projections ranging from 130 to 167. For the Mahagathbandhan, these same polls predict between 73 and 108 seats.

The consolidated average from these polls indicates the ruling NDA will secure approximately 147 seats, while the Grand Alliance will obtain around 90.

Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party, widely anticipated to be a decisive factor in this election, is projected to have minimal impact according to exit polls. The newly-formed party might barely establish a presence, winning between zero to five seats, with an average projection of just 2 seats. Speculation suggests that even with this modest performance, the party could siphon votes from the opposition alliance, potentially widening the gap between them and the NDA.

Individual party performances within the Grand Alliance show declining trends across the board. While comprehensive breakdowns weren't available for all parties, both the RJD and Congress appear to have underperformed according to exit polls.

The RJD is projected to win between 57 and 69 seats, down from 75 in the previous election. Congress, which faced criticism after securing 19 seats last time, may decline further to between 11 and 14 seats this time.

The BJP is expected to secure between 67 and 70 seats. While this would make them the top performer, it falls considerably short of the RJD's previous benchmark and even represents a decline from their own previous tally of 75 seats.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United appears positioned for significant improvement compared to their previous performance. The party, which secured only 43 seats last time, is now projected to win between 58 and 71 seats.