Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Patna, November 14 (IANS) According to initial trends, Congress is lagging behind; However, many party leaders on Friday stressed that the India Bloc coalition government is going to be formed in Bihar with a clear majority.
Speaking to IANS, Congress leader Devendra Yadav said, “The trends we are seeing today are different from the exit poll predictions and we do not accept those exit polls. Today a coalition government of India Bloc is going to be formed in Bihar with a clear majority.”
Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said, “In many trends, the Grand Alliance is leading. Then why are you focusing only on the early trends? For two or three years, we have seen how trends are influenced. The BJP and its ecosystem are doing something to influence these trends. I have seen on many news channels that the Grand Alliance is leading. Democracy should win, not ‘Lokchandra’.” One should not work as per the constitution. I firmly believe that the people of Bihar have given their mandate and will make the Grand Alliance victorious.”
All India Congress Committee general secretary Avinash Pandey said, “The initial trends have just started, and it will take some time for the full results to come. But I am confident that the way all the coalition parties have worked hard to maintain democracy, we will definitely succeed, and a coalition government will be formed here.”
As the counting of votes for the Bihar Assembly elections began, early trends from the Election Commission data showed a clear, but rather decisive, lead for the NDA and a blow for the Grand Alliance. By 10 am, the poll panel showed that the NDA has crossed the magic figure of 122 seats, while the Grand Alliance is leading in 42 constituencies.
The highlight of the early trends is JDU reaching the top position and emerging as the largest party.
The counting process for all 243 assembly seats began at 8 am, starting with the verification of postal ballots. This was followed by counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes from 8.30 am, which took place under elaborate multi-layered security arrangements across the state.
According to Election Commission of India updates: At 10.30 am, the ruling NDA was leading in 172 seats – BJP 73, JDU 77, LJP (RV) 18 and HAMS leading in four seats. The opposition grand alliance is leading on 54 seats – RJD is leading on 42 seats, Congress on seven seats and CPI (ML) (L) on five seats.
The candidates of both the alliances expressed confidence in their performance. NDA leaders emphasized that the people of Bihar have reposed faith in the guarantees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the work of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the development of the state.
The RJD-led grand alliance claimed that Bihar “voted for change” and expressed hope that Tejashwi Yadav would form the next government.
The counting operations are being monitored by 243 returning officers and an equal number of counting observers appointed by the Election Commission.
More than 18,000 counting agents representing various candidates are present at the centers to closely monitor the process.
Entry into counting centers has been strictly restricted to persons with valid passes, and use of mobile phones inside the counting halls has been completely banned.
More than 70 crore voters participated in the elections, casting their votes to decide the fate of both the ruling NDA and the Grand Alliance. Voting was held in two phases on 6 and 11 November.
–IANS
JK/DPB