Hope, despair at party offices as trends show NDA ahead of Grand Alliance

The grim atmosphere brought about by the exit polls, which predicted a win for the RJD-led Grand Alliance, has turned jovial in NDA camps as the alliance marched past the Opposition during the counting of votes on Tuesday (November 10).

RJD and Congress workers looked glum, even though there are chances of the tables to turn in their favour.

According to latest trends, while the Grand Alliance is leading in 128 seats while the Mahagathbandhan is leading in 105 seats of 243 Assembly seats.

Related news: Exit polls put RJD on Bihar throne, give BJP edge in MP, UP, Gujarat

The Beer Chand Patel Path office of the BJP which had not witnessed much activity since the announcement of the exit polls, saw a flood of party workers visiting it on the counting day. State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal is in the office monitoring the results closely.

Bihar BJP spokesman Sanjay Singh Tiger said the BJP-JD(U) coalition has worked under the “double engine” governments — NDA dispensations at the Centre as well in the state and the people of Bihar have blessed it.

“The people know Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish kumar can speed up development of the state and hence they have reposed their faith in the NDA,” Tiger told reporters.

While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is monitoring the counting of votes from his residence, reports say party leaders and workers have started thronging the party office, close to the BJP and RJD party offices.

Bihar JD(U) president Vasistha Narayan Singh said they were confident since the beginning that the people of the state would like the ruling coalition to continue and expedite the development process.

“When top BJP leaders themselves have said that Kumar will be the CM irrespective of the individual scores of the alliance partners, is there any need to clarify this further?” Singh said when asked if Nitish Kumar will continue to be the state’s CM if the NDA wins.

JD(U) spokesman Ajay Alok said the people of Bihar have faith in Nitish Kumar and that is reflected in the trends in favour of the NDA.

Spirits dampen in Camp RJD

In the RJD camp, which was on cloud nine till Monday with almost all exit polls indicating the party-helmed coalition coming to power in the state and its leader Tejashwi Yadav becoming chief minister, the initial euphoria appears to be dipping.

A crowd of Tejashwi supporters that had gathered outside the 10 Circular Road residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi expecting a victory is thinning now.

However, some fans of the RJD leader still hope the counting trend will change later in the day, and help Tejashwi emerge the winner.

Related news: Congress steps up efforts to prevent poaching on MLAs in Bihar

Bihar RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said, “It’s like a T-20 match. The result will be decided only when the last ball of the match is bowled.”

In the Congress camp, initial excitement appears to have evaporated with the trends showing Grand Alliance trailing the NDA. Scores of Congress leaders from across the country, including its general secretary Randeep Surjewala, who have arrived here in the hope of party forming a government with Mahagathbandhan partners are glued to TV channels hoping the trends will change in accordance to the exit polls. “We are not far behind, things will change in our favour,” state Congress spokesman Rajesh Rathor told PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)