Bihar recorded a polling percentage of 53.51 per cent in the second phase of the state elections yesterday. The state will vote for the last phase on Saturday and campaign is likely to intensify.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce attack on the opposition over the issues of corruption and law and order in the past.
"Bihar has given a clear message, on the basis of the initial information we're getting, that the state has decided to reelect the NDA government," the Prime Minister, who is the de-facto face of the NDA even though it is led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar, said while addressing a poll rally.
Votes will be counted on Saturday.
Here are the live updates on Bihar Election results 2020:
Aiming to woo voters of Seemanchal-Kosi belt, spread over the Muslim-dominated districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, and Purnia, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mahagathbandhan chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav will camp overnight in neighbouring Madhepura district, reported news agency ANI. The RJD and the Congress, along with the Left parties -- which make up the Grand Alliance -- have had a traditional sway over the voters in the Seemanchal region that has 24 seats among the remaining 78 constituencies, which will go to polls on Saturday. Nitish Kumar will address five rallies, three in Katihar district and two in Purnia, before leaving for Patna on Thursday.
Alleging that Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav did not attend the last Assembly session during the ongoing pandemic, BJP National President JP Nadda on Wednesday urged the people of Bihar to give him rest and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar another chance to serve them, reported news agency ANI. "The prince of jungle raj is the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Vidhan Sabha. Yet he didn't attend the last Assembly session even once. It is cheating with the public. So give him aaram (rest) and give Nitish ji kaam (work)," he said, adding that both Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav were scared of the coronavirus, sitting in Delhi. The Congress and RJD are part of the Grand Alliance in Bihar and are pitted against the ruling National Democratic Alliance of the JD(U) and BJP combine.
Asserting that the people of Bihar prefer "sushashan ki rajneeti" (politics of good governance), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said only the NDA can provide security, employment and new opportunities of self-employment to the youth of the state, reported news agency PTI. He also said that the youth and women of the state have always been with the NDA and they see hope in the alliance. In a series of tweets in Hindi, PM Modi said he had the opportunity to meet his "brothers and sisters" of Bihar and seek their blessings during his election rallies in the state over the past few days. "From the first rally in Sasaram to the last rally in Saharsa, the public gave a lot of love," PM Modi said. Bihar has always considered the values of democracy supreme and, therefore, the people of Bihar only like "sushashan ki rajneeti".
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today took a swipe at the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in elections and also at a section of the Indian media, saying he wouldn't be perturbed by them in his war of ideology.
The JD(U) has expelled its MLC Dinesh Prasad Singh with immediate effect on charges of helping his daughter and LJP candidate Komal Singh campaign in Gaighat assembly constituency of Muzaffarpur district, reported news agency ANI. Dinesh Prasad Singh, who is also the husband of the LJP's Vaishali MP Veena Singh, is facing charges of pressurising JD(U) workers in Gaighat constituency to work for Komal Singh, instead of JD(U)'s official candidate Maheshwar Prasad Yadav. The party, in a letter, informed him of his suspension from the "primary membership of the party" with immediate effect and directed him to submit his side in writing to the state party.