
Bihar Election Results 2020: State saw a bitter and hectic election campaign
After more than 14 hours of counting, dozens of twists and turns and allegations of cheating, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was announced as the winner of the Bihar Assembly election in the (very) early hours of Wednesday morning. Boosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's several rallies, the NDA hit the majority mark of 122 at 2.57 AM. According to data on the Election Commission's website, the BJP won 72 seats to emerge as the senior member in its alliance with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU, which managed just 42.
The BJP had claimed victory in Bihar assembly polls for the National Democratic Alliance even as the counting for 50 seats were still underway.
"Every section of Bihar has rejected hollow promises, casteism and politics of appeasement, and has backed the NDA's development agenda," Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted late Tuesday night.
Minutes after Mr Shah's tweet, PM Modi tweeted, saying the people of Bihar have made a "decisive decision" to give development a chance.
The Election Commission held four press briefings since morning the counting of votes took place amid unprecedented times; India is the second worst-affected country by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The state elections in Bihar are the biggest in the country since the start of the pandemic.
It was a high-stake battle for the BJP-JDU combine as well as for Tejashwi Yadav's Grand Alliance as he made a desperate attempt for the RJD's return to power. Of 243 seats, the JDU contested 122 seats, while the BJP contested 121 seats. Targeted by opposition, he faced a major anti-incumbency wave.
Earlier in the day, as the NDA surged ahead, the Grand Alliance, refused to concede. While the Congress said they would wait till the last vote is counted, the RJD has made an appeal to its supporters to stay at counting centres till midnight.
Nitish Kumar's ex-ally Chirag Paswan, who chose to go solo this time, is another young leader on the frontline in the state apart from Tejashwi Yadav, ex-chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's son. The JDU today said the ruling party has been "hurt" by Chirag Paswan's stinging comments amid the campaign heat after he parted ways. However the LJP's performance has not been impressive as many observers called it a "vote cutter" for Nitish Kumar.
Over the last few weeks, a fierce campaign saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi - the NDA'S de-facto face- seeking votes for Nitish Kumar. The BJP-JDU combine has been targeted by opposition over issues such as unemployment and the handling of the pandemic.
Tejashwi Yadav had made a big poll promise of 10 lakh jobs. While the BJP attacked Tejashwi Yadav over the issue, the party's manifesto also made a mention of 19 lakh jobs, apart from "free Covid vaccine" - which gave more ammunition to the opposition. Many opposition leaders alleged that the ruling party is using pandemic to get votes.
Nitish Kumar, who has faced jibes, slogan-shouting crowds and on one occasion, an onion attack, has said this will be his last election. "This election will end and this is my last election. Ant bhala to sab bhala (All's well that ends well)," he said while campaigning in Bihar's Purnea.
Here are Bihar Election Result 2020 Counting and Updates:

After more than 14 hours of counting, dozens of twists and turns and allegations of cheating, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was announced as the winner of the Bihar Assembly election in the (very) early hours of Wednesday morning.

- 223 constituencies declared. 20 left. 17 cases where rounds of EVM counts are on.
- We have been sharing updates from time to time and giving you context under which counting is taking place.
- Teams trying to finish up counting as soon as possible. Their efforts on the ground are laudable.
- We thank everyone for their support and the media who covered the election results.
- We will have a final tally in an hour or so.
- Apart from 2 seats in Madhya Pradesh, all bypolls results are out.
RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav reaches former Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence in Patna. Tej Pratap Yadav has won the Hasanpur Assembly seat. (ANI)
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
##ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElectionResultspic.twitter.com/AftuAcOiUe
Watch | "Development is possible with central government under PM Modi and Bihar under Nitish Kumar": Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
Read here https://t.co/W8LmAVRFDn#ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElecctionResultspic.twitter.com/SRo2YmDv3j
Watch | BJP Claims Victory In Bihar Before Results Out, Says Win For Development
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
Read here https://t.co/W8LmAVRFDn#ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElectionResultspic.twitter.com/IMYWArcuG0

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the people of Bihar have made a "decisive decision" to give development a chance, as results of the assembly election continue to trickle in, showing the ruling NDA leading in 122 seats and the opposition alliance in 113 seats.
"Youth of Bihar have made it clear that new decade will be of Bihar and for self-reliant Bihar: PM Narendra Modi on assembly poll results," tweeted PM Modi on Bihar assembly poll results.
"Bihar has taught the world the first lesson of democracy. A record number of poor, deprived and women of Bihar also voted and have also given their verdict for development," tweeted PM Modi as trends showed NDA leading in Bihar.
Watch | "Till the last round (of counting) it matters": Ravindra Kishore Sinha, BJP Leader#ResultsWIthNDTV#BiharElectionResultspic.twitter.com/Oq0FjhuHmA
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
The NDA alliance is set to form the government in Bihar as it has won 121 seats and was leading with comfortable margin on four other seats, BJP''s Bihar unit president Sanjay Jaiswal said on Tuesday while attributing the alliance's victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Asked whether there would be any change in the chief minister as BJP has won more seats than its ally JD(U), Mr Jaiswal said both parties fought together and Nitish Kumar was announced as its chief ministerial candidate before the elections.
#NDTVExclusive | "Big parties treated me like untouchable": Asaduddin Owaisi, who has 5 seats tells NDTV.#ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElectionResultspic.twitter.com/NVDsALIoFO
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
The AIMIM will decide later which party it will support, Mr Owaisi told NDTV.
"We trust Election Commission but not district administration," says RJD's Manoj Jha after meeting election officials over vote suppression allegations #ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElectionResults
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
"The Election Commission is not under anyone's pressure. The time taken for the declaration of results is natural under these circumstances. Most of the seats' results have been declared," said Chandra Bhushan Singh, Deputy Election Commissioner.
Patna: RJD and Congress delegation arrive at the Election Commission office to raise the issue of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly influencing counting of votes. pic.twitter.com/t8wt56YrvO
- ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
#WATCH: Celebrations outside Asaduddin Owaisi's residence in Hyderabad, Telangana; his party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has won one seat in #Bihar and is leading on four seats, as per latest Election Commission of India trends. pic.twitter.com/QAaEuaNm8H
- ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2020
"Nitish Kumar has been the captain in Bihar through the 15 years in which he worked tirelessly to develop the state. Getting lesser seats sometimes does not mean that you are not the captain. The NDA in Bihar has been guided by Nitish Kumar ji," said JD(U) leader Satya Prakash to NDTV.
The strategy adopted by LJP leader Chirag Paswan to contest outside NDA and target Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the campaign does not appear to have worked in the Bihar assembly polls and the party is likely to draw a blank.
With 82 per cent of the votes already counted, LJP is not in lead on any seat though it had shown some promise in the initial rounds of counting.
The party had contested 137 of 243 seats and fielded candidates against JD(U) but not BJP.
The Election Commission has declared results for 103 of 243 seats. It's a close fight between the BJP - which has won 32 seats - and the RJD, which has won 29 seats.
Ex-chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has won from Imamganj.


Nitish Kumar must thank the Shiv Sena if he retains the post of Bihar Chief Minister despite his JDU winning fewer seats than the BJP, Sanjay Raut said Tuesday evening in a swipe at his party's former ally" itemprop="description
Election results for 77 seats have been called, according to the latest figures. The BJP has won 23 seats so far, while the RJD has won 21 seats. Nitish Kumar's JDU has won 13 seats so far.
RJD continues to be the single-largest party with lead in 60 seats followed by the BJP, which is leading in 56 seats. The two rivals have won 16 seats each so far.
How 2020 scenario is different from 2015 in Bihar#ResultsWithNDTV @BiharElectionResults
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
Watch live https://t.co/gqLXji1xHapic.twitter.com/0aaTGCnBIW
"The Nitish Kumar administration is delaying counting in 10 seats. The candidates who have won are not been given certificates. Sitting in the Chief Minister's house, Sushil Kumar is making the Chief Secretary exert a pressure on officials concerned over seats that have a close margin," the RJD said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The trends so far are in favour of the NDA. I think we did not pay attention to the Bihar election. We (NCP) did not contest because we felt that young leadership in the form of Tejashwi Yadav should come forward," seasoned politician and NCP chief Sharad Pawar said this evening, news agency PTI reported. "Tejashwi has put up a gritty fight," he stressed.


The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appeared headed for a win in Bihar today as votes were counted in the first major election held in the shadow of the coronavirus. The NDA, defying multiple exit polls, sailed past the majority mark and the BJP was even the largest party at one point in a state where it has always been junior partner. However, the opposition alliance led by Tejashwi Yadav put up a strong fight, emerging as the largest party after 10 hours of counting. The unexpected surge for the NDA, despite Nitish Kumar facing anti-incumbency after three straight terms, has been attributed by the BJP to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign." itemprop="description
The Election Commission has declared results for 20 seats - rivals RJD and BJP have won six seats each. Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Communist Party of India (Marxist) have won 1 seat each. Indian National Congress, Janata Dal (United) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party have won two seats each.

The Congress has accused Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM of undermining its vote base in Bihar's crucial Seemanchal region to help the BJP, which is set to emerge as the single-largest party in the state."
- Results are expected late at night
- Counting is nearly over in 119 seats
- In 18 constituencies, margin is less than 1,000
- Election Commission trying to give results as soon as possible
- Election Commission told counting officers not to be in a hurry and take time
- Counting is smooth, officials working patiently
"In several constituencies, the number of counting rounds may go up to 51," Umesh Singh, Secretary General, Election Commission, said this evening, adding that "all Covid norms" are being followed amid counting of votes.
As votes are counted, trends seem to be flipping again with the RJD emerging as the single-largest party with lead in 73 seats. The BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party during the day amid counting of votes, is leading in 67 seats.

Bihar Election Result 2020: Amit Shah speaks to Nitish Kumar on phone, say sources as NDA maintains lead while votes are counted.
While the BJP is leading in 73 seats, the RJD is leading in 67 seats.
The vote share of two rivals - Grand Alliance and the NDA - has a difference of just two percent, according to figures available.While the Grand Alliance has got a vote share of 36.8 per cent, the NDA has a vote share of 38.8 per cent.
Bihar held the country's biggest elections since the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Strict measures were put in place - to check the spread of coronavirus- as more than four crore people stepped out to vote. The state has logged over 2.22 lakh cases so far, and the coronavirus has also slowed down the pace of counting. In an unusual presser, the Election Commission this afternoon announced the counting process will continue till late night. Another press conference will be held at 6 PM.
- Communist Party of India - 3
- Communist Party of India (Marxist) - 3
- Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation)- 12
- Indian National Congress - 18
- Rashtriya Janata Dal - 66
The JDU, which is leading in 43 seats, has won one seat so far.
In a sea change in politics, the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party. It's leading in 77 seats. The JDU is leading in 43 seats.

Subhashini Yadav, a Congress debutant in the Bihar election and seasoned politician Sharad Yadav's daughter, is trailing in her constituency - Bihariganj.
"We are in touch with all the candidates and partyworkers... as per the details we have received, trends are favouring us. The counting will continue late night. The Grand Alliance will surely win. Bihar has opted for change. All candidates and counting agents are requested to stay at counting centres till the process is complete," the RJD said in a tweet in Hindi even as the NDA leads in 129 seats.

Dalit stalwart Jitan Ram Manjhi, one of the key candidates to watch out for, is leading in Imamganj. The Dalit leader switched from Tejashwi Yadav-led grand-alliance to the National Democratic Alliance - hoping to share power should the Nitish Kumar-led group win another term in Bihar

Chirag Paswan has played a very wicked game in Bihar, managing to relegate Nitish Kumar and his party to third place in the northern state.


The Congress today looked like the weak link as the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan seemed set for second place in the Bihar election despite exit polls predicting an opposition victory." itemprop="description

Watch | Poll body explains the changes made in counting halls amid COVID-19, to follow the guidelines. "Hope to finish counting by tonight": Election Commission #ResultsWithNDTV#BiharElectionResultspic.twitter.com/3nimquoXts
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 10, 2020
"It has been clarified time and again that EVMs are robust and tamperproof. The integrity of EVMs is without any doubt and merits no further clarification," Chandrabhushan Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner said this afternoon.