In advance of the 2025 Bihar assembly election results, which are scheduled to be counted on Friday, November 14, accusations kept flying while feast preparations were in progress.
At eight in the morning, the procedure starts. If exit polls are accurate and the ruling NDA, led by the JD(U) and BJP, sweeps, trends may be evident early on.
On Thursday, the opposition leveled new accusations of potential "electoral fraud," emphasizing that exit polls had frequently been inaccurate recently.
The outcome will determine whether the opposition Mahagathbandhan of the INDIA bloc parties RJD and Congress, led by Tejashwi Yadav, can pull off an upset or whether JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, the state's longest-serving chief minister, takes the oath of office once more.

EC's preparations for counting votes in Bihar
According to the Election Commission (EC), counting will happen at 46 locations throughout the 38 districts. The electoral destiny of more than 2,600 candidates was up to a total of 7.4 crore voters.
Participation in the two rounds of the poll on November 6 and 11 reached a record high of about 67%. According to the Election Commission (EC), this is the greatest attendance in Bihar since elections were first conducted in independent India in 1951.
However, there has been increased security in the days preceding the verdict due to the RJD's harsh accusations against the state government and the EC.

Security protocols at counting facilities
According to EC officials, voting machines are kept sealed inside strongrooms using a "double-lock system," and the location is protected by a two-tier security structure. The state police oversee the outside tier, while the central paramilitary is in charge of the inner tier. There are also CCTV cameras.
The counting procedure will be recorded in front of central EC observers and agents assigned by the candidates for transparency, particularly because the opposition led by Congressman Rahul Gandhi has been casting doubt on the EC's credibility.

Additionally, the poll code of conduct is valid till November 16. Prohibitory orders prohibiting processions, political gatherings, and protests have been issued by Patna's district magistrate.
What exit polls say about Bihar 2025 Nearly all exit polls anticipate that the ruling NDA would have a clear mandate. In addition to the JD(U) and BJP, the alliance consists of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) of Upendra Kushwaha, the LJP (RV) of Chirag Paswan, and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) or HAM(S) of Jitan Ram Manjhi.

During its campaign, the NDA reminded people of the "jungle raj" days of RJD rule under Tejashwi's father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and attempted to project its welfare schemes, especially for women who cast more votes than men.

There were limitations to the Axis My India survey's prediction of an NDA victory. It predicted that the NDA would win a simple majority of between 121 and 141 seats. This would indicate one short of the majority at the lower end.
The Mahagathbandhan (MGB), which is only four votes short of a majority, could receive at least 98 and possibly even 118. The MGB also comprises three communist parties: the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) of IP Gupta, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) of MGB deputy chief minister Mukesh Sahani, and the CPI(ML)-Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya.
The MGB's campaign focused on "social justice," "backward classes," and the NDA lead by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's purported "capture of institutions such as the EC" and "danger to democracy."

Axis My India's 2025 predictions says RJD would be followed by Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) at 56-62 seats, and the BJP could be third at 50-56. This would mean a revival of sorts for the JD(U), which won fewer seats than the BJP last time and, therefore, had to concede equal space to the BJP in ticket allocation this time.

Other surveys were more forceful.
With 148 to 172 seats predicted for the NDA and 65 to 89 for the MGB, today's Chanakya predicted a landslide victory for the NDA. The NDA received a score of 133–159 from People's Pulse and a score of 135–150 from JVC.
Everyone agreed that Jan Suraaj, the debut party of political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor, would receive no more than five seats. Kishor had informed HT that his party, which positioned itself as the long-needed reform for the impoverished state, will either easily establish the government or be reduced to fewer than ten, with no middle ground.

Watch closely for exit polls: What happened the last time?
A news portal named Journo Mirror was at least one anomaly in the 2025 Bihar exit polls. In the 243-member Bihar assembly, the Mahagathbandhan or INDIA alliance is expected to secure 130–140 seats, easily surpassing the majority threshold of 122. According to Journo Mirror, the NDA will receive 100–110 seats and lose control. Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM received three to four seats.
Exit surveys are a challenging task because of the various approaches used.
In 2020, the Mahagathbandhan was anticipated to win the preceding Bihar assembly election, but most were wrong. To be fair, it was perceived as a close race, with MGB not appearing to be well ahead of the NDA.

When Nitish Kumar was a member of the MGB in 2015, an average of six exit polls or surveys indicated that the group would win, albeit by a slim margin. With 178 seats, the RJD-JD(U)-Congress Mahagathbandhan emerged victorious.
Fearing fraud, Tejashwi refuses exit polls.
In light of this, Tejashwi Yadav, the head of the RJD, dismissed all predictions and declared that the Mahagathbandhan would establish the government with a "thumping majority." Additionally, opposition leaders said that there might be "cheating" and that the exit polls were attempting to "create a narrative."
In particular, Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the NDA would "make all attempts to slow down the vote count" and attempt to "murder democracy" by instilling fear.

The RJD specifically brought up a significant accusation of "vote theft" in the Sasaram constituency. The party claimed that the video feeds were "switched off" and that the district administration had "sneaked" Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) into a counting center without warning.
The claim was denied by Rohtas district magistrate Udita Singh, who clarified that the truck in question was carrying empty steel boxes. Several candidates and their supporters were present when the truck was inspected, and the entry was noted in the logbook, she continued.

In particular, the RJD raised a serious allegation of "vote theft" in the Sasaram constituency. The party said that the district administration had "sneaked" Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) into a counting center and "switched off" the video feeds.
Udita Singh, the district magistrate of Rohtas, refuted the story, explaining that the vehicle in question was transporting empty steel crates. She went on, "The truck was inspected with a number of candidates and their supporters present, and the entry was noted in the logbook."

Union minister Nityanand Rai blamed this on the "wave of good governance" spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the influence of Prime Minister Modi.

According to at least one news outlet, the BJP has started getting ready for the festivities as well. Prior to the day of counting, a BJP employee in Patna placed an order for 501 kg of laddoos.

In a same vein, JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh, who was charged with murder during his campaign, has decorated his home with tents, chairs, and other items in anticipation of inviting supporters to a feast on November 14.

To show appreciation for the state's "peaceful and undisputed" election, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited houses of worship.

In advance of the 2025 Bihar assembly election results, which are scheduled to be counted on Friday, November 14, accusations kept flying while feast preparations were in progress.
At eight in the morning, the procedure starts. If exit polls are accurate and the ruling NDA, led by the JD(U) and BJP, sweeps, trends may be evident early on.
On Thursday, the opposition leveled new accusations of potential "electoral fraud," emphasizing that exit polls had frequently been inaccurate recently.
The outcome will determine whether the opposition Mahagathbandhan of the INDIA bloc parties RJD and Congress, led by Tejashwi Yadav, can pull off an upset or whether JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, the state's longest-serving chief minister, takes the oath of office once more.

EC's preparations for counting votes in Bihar
According to the Election Commission (EC), counting will happen at 46 locations throughout the 38 districts. The electoral destiny of more than 2,600 candidates was up to a total of 7.4 crore voters.
Participation in the two rounds of the poll on November 6 and 11 reached a record high of about 67%. According to the Election Commission (EC), this is the greatest attendance in Bihar since elections were first conducted in independent India in 1951.
However, there has been increased security in the days preceding the verdict due to the RJD's harsh accusations against the state government and the EC.

Security protocols at counting facilities
According to EC officials, voting machines are kept sealed inside strongrooms using a "double-lock system," and the location is protected by a two-tier security structure. The state police oversee the outside tier, while the central paramilitary is in charge of the inner tier. There are also CCTV cameras.
The counting procedure will be recorded in front of central EC observers and agents assigned by the candidates for transparency, particularly because the opposition led by Congressman Rahul Gandhi has been casting doubt on the EC's credibility.

Additionally, the poll code of conduct is valid till November 16. Prohibitory orders prohibiting processions, political gatherings, and protests have been issued by Patna's district magistrate.
What exit polls say about Bihar 2025 Nearly all exit polls anticipate that the ruling NDA would have a clear mandate. In addition to the JD(U) and BJP, the alliance consists of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) of Upendra Kushwaha, the LJP (RV) of Chirag Paswan, and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) or HAM(S) of Jitan Ram Manjhi.

During its campaign, the NDA reminded people of the "jungle raj" days of RJD rule under Tejashwi's father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and attempted to project its welfare schemes, especially for women who cast more votes than men.

There were limitations to the Axis My India survey's prediction of an NDA victory. It predicted that the NDA would win a simple majority of between 121 and 141 seats. This would indicate one short of the majority at the lower end.
The Mahagathbandhan (MGB), which is only four votes short of a majority, could receive at least 98 and possibly even 118. The MGB also comprises three communist parties: the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) of IP Gupta, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) of MGB deputy chief minister Mukesh Sahani, and the CPI(ML)-Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya.

The MGB's campaign focused on "social justice," "backward classes," and the NDA lead by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's purported "capture of institutions such as the EC" and "danger to democracy."

Axis My India's 2025 predictions says RJD would be followed by Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) at 56-62 seats, and the BJP could be third at 50-56. This would mean a revival of sorts for the JD(U), which won fewer seats than the BJP last time and, therefore, had to concede equal space to the BJP in ticket allocation this time.

Other surveys were more forceful.
With 148 to 172 seats predicted for the NDA and 65 to 89 for the MGB, today's Chanakya predicted a landslide victory for the NDA. The NDA received a score of 133–159 from People's Pulse and a score of 135–150 from JVC.
Everyone agreed that Jan Suraaj, the debut party of political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor, would receive no more than five seats. Kishor had informed HT that his party, which positioned itself as the long-needed reform for the impoverished state, will either easily establish the government or be reduced to fewer than ten, with no middle ground.

Watch closely for exit polls: What happened the last time?
A news portal named Journo Mirror was at least one anomaly in the 2025 Bihar exit polls. In the 243-member Bihar assembly, the Mahagathbandhan or INDIA alliance is expected to secure 130–140 seats, easily surpassing the majority threshold of 122. According to Journo Mirror, the NDA will receive 100–110 seats and lose control. Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM received three to four seats.
Exit surveys are a challenging task because of the various approaches used.
In 2020, the Mahagathbandhan was anticipated to win the preceding Bihar assembly election, but most were wrong. To be fair, it was perceived as a close race, with MGB not appearing to be well ahead of the NDA.

When Nitish Kumar was a member of the MGB in 2015, an average of six exit polls or surveys indicated that the group would win, albeit by a slim margin. With 178 seats, the RJD-JD(U)-Congress Mahagathbandhan emerged victorious.
Fearing fraud, Tejashwi refuses exit polls.
In light of this, Tejashwi Yadav, the head of the RJD, dismissed all predictions and declared that the Mahagathbandhan would establish the government with a "thumping majority." Additionally, opposition leaders said that there might be "cheating" and that the exit polls were attempting to "create a narrative."
In particular, Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the NDA would "make all attempts to slow down the vote count" and attempt to "murder democracy" by instilling fear.

The RJD specifically brought up a significant accusation of "vote theft" in the Sasaram constituency. The party claimed that the video feeds were "switched off" and that the district administration had "sneaked" Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) into a counting center without warning.
The claim was denied by Rohtas district magistrate Udita Singh, who clarified that the truck in question was carrying empty steel boxes. Several candidates and their supporters were present when the truck was inspected, and the entry was noted in the logbook, she continued.

In particular, the RJD raised a serious allegation of "vote theft" in the Sasaram constituency. The party said that the district administration had "sneaked" Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) into a counting center and "switched off" the video feeds.

Udita Singh, the district magistrate of Rohtas, refuted the story, explaining that the vehicle in question was transporting empty steel crates. She went on, "The truck was inspected with a number of candidates and their supporters present, and the entry was noted in the logbook."

Union minister Nityanand Rai blamed this on the "wave of good governance" spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the influence of Prime Minister Modi.
According to at least one news outlet, the BJP has started getting ready for the festivities as well. Prior to the day of counting, a BJP employee in Patna placed an order for 501 kg of laddoos.
In a same vein, JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh, who was charged with murder during his campaign, has decorated his home with tents, chairs, and other items in anticipation of inviting supporters to a feast on November 14.
To show appreciation for the state's "peaceful and undisputed" election, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited houses of worship.