Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Patna, Nov 11 (IANS) The Nitish Kumar-led double engine government is set to return to power with a thumping majority in the Bihar assembly elections, while the grand alliance seems to be slipping to second place, according to the IANS-Matrix exit poll.
According to exit poll estimates, the BJP-led NDA is set to garner 48 per cent vote share, which would translate into almost a two-thirds majority in the 243-member assembly, while the grand alliance seems to be limited to 37 per cent vote share, which would translate into barely 70-90 seats for the RJD-Congress-led alliance.
Another major highlight of the exit polls is the resurgence of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which had come under considerable scrutiny ahead of the elections due to the chief minister’s ill health.
Exit polls show that there is strong unity among JD(U) voters in the elections and the party may also emerge as the single largest party, leaving behind its ally BJP and rival RJD.
BJP looks to stabilize its performance in 2020 like the previous elections and is expected to win 65-73 seats by securing around 19 percent vote share.
RJD is expected to get 21 vote share and 53-58 seats, while its biggest ally Congress is expected to get only 7 percent vote share i.e. 10-12 seats.
The exit poll predictions, if they prove true on November 14, mean a landslide mandate for the Nitish Kumar government and a disastrous performance for the grand alliance, while the latter is running a high-profile campaign of ‘vote theft’ trying to indoctrinate people over alleged electoral fraud in the elections.
NDA’s smaller constituents, Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustan Awam Morcha (HMA), Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha are expected to get 2, 5 and 2 per cent vote share respectively. It is expected that together they will add 12-16 seats to NDA’s kitty, taking its total number of seats to 147-167.
For the grand alliance, CPI (ML), CPI, CPI (M) and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) are expected to get 9 per cent vote share, resulting in around 10-18 seats. Taking together the numbers of all the constituent parties, the grand alliance seems to be limited to 70-90 seats.
Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraj seems to be making an impressive debut with 5 per cent vote share, while Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM seems to be garnering 1 per cent vote share.
While Jan Suraj is projected to win 0-2 seats, AIMIM may see its candidates winning in 2-3 constituencies.
Other parties together are likely to get 9 percent vote share and win around 0-5 seats.
The IANS-Matrix exit poll’s vote percentage and seat share estimates come with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 per cent. More than 66,000 people were surveyed to reach the conclusions, including the views of more than 31,000 men, more than 19,000 women and more than 15,000 young voters, which was taken until November 11 – the second phase of voting, which recorded a record turnout.
–IANS
mr/dan