Bihar Assembly polls: Vote counting begins, Tejashwi Yadav-led Grand Alliance takes early lead

As per early trends, the RJD-Congress-Left 'Mahagathbandhan' is ahead in 69 seats while the incumbent JDU-BJP-HAM-VIP (NDA) alliance is leading in 53.

Nitish Kumar has been the CM of Bihar for the past 14 years.

Amid tight security vote counting started at 8 am.

Counting is taking place in 55 Centres spread across all 38 districts in the state.

All counting staff and officials have been directed to follow the guidelines of Election Commission to avoid the spread of Coronavirus infection.

Sources at the office of Chief Electoral Officer said that postal ballots would be counted first then counting of votes in EVMs would begin.

As per instruction of Election Commission, the maximum number of voters in a booth was fixed at 1000, leading to increase of the number of booths.

Accordingly, the number of EVMs also increased by 40 per cent which could delay in announcement of results. Earlier, the first result used to come by noon but this time it is expected by late evening or night.

NDA and Grand Alliance are two main power contenders while other newly floated fronts comprising smaller parties have also tried their best to be in important roles in the formation of the government in the post-poll scenario.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, leading NDA, has sought the blessings of the electorate to serve the state for another term while Tejaswi Prasad Yadav, CM face of Grand Alliance has appealed to the people to give him one opportunity, saying Nitish Kumar government has failed on all fronts in last 15 years.

The verdict of the people, sealed in EVMs during three-phase of assembly elections held on October 28, November 3 and November 7, would be known today.