This Article is From Nov 06, 2015

NDTV Exit Poll Puts BJP-Led Alliance Ahead in Bihar

NDTV Exit Poll Puts BJP-Led Alliance Ahead in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Bihar.

New Delhi:

The NDTV Exit Poll for Bihar shows the BJP and its allies winning the state.

The forecast for 243 seats:

BJP: 125 seats
Grand Alliance: 110 seats


NDTV's Exit Poll from Bihar shows the Grand Alliance winning phase 1. Of the 49 seats that voted on October 12, the partnership between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad wins 28 seats (down 5 from the national election), compared to 20 for the BJP (up 5 from last year).  

This region of Magadh in South East Bihar is a stronghold for the parties of Mr Kumar and Mr Prasad, with a high population of Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and a small percentage of Muslims and forward castes. The Manjhi effect hit the Grand Alliance hard here - Nitish Kumar paid heavily for his decision to remove the Mahadalit leader as Chief Minister. 

Bihar voted in five phases for 243 seats. The results will be counted on Sunday morning.

NDTV's Exit Poll sampled 76,000 people in all 243 constituencies, a massive sample.

Phase 2 on October 16 saw 32 seats being decided, once again in an area dominated by Mr Kumar and Mr Prasad's parties, the JD(U) and RJD. NDTV's Exit Poll shows the Grand Alliance winning 12 seats, down nine from last year in the Lok Sabha election. The BJP-led NDA, on the other hand, gets 19 seats, up eight from last year.

Phase 3 on October 28 had 50 seats. The Grand Alliance gets 21 seats, down seven from the 2014 national election, and the NDA gaining 6 seats to get 28. 

Phase 4 on November 1 saw 55 seats being decided in the region of Tirhut. NDTV's Exit Poll shows the Grand Alliance getting 21 seats (a gain of 3 from 2014) and the BJP alliance getting 31 seats (down 6 from the national election). This area is a strong support base for the BJP.

For phase 5, the Grand Alliance hit hard by a 9 per cent swing away, BJP sees a 10 per cent swing in its favour, phenomenal and a game-changer for the party, according to the exit poll.

The Grand Alliance lose 17 seats from 2014 to get 28 seats. The BJP gains 7 to get 27 seats.

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