As it happened: Voters reject NDA politics, give Grand Alliance thumping victory in Bihar

Bihar counting begins from 7 am onwards, and as both the exit polls and pre poll survey has thrown confusing numbers at us, it is only the actual results that can give us some direction. We follow each and every update live in this blog.

The pre-poll surveys and exit polls have failed to give any direction to where Bihar is headed. While the pre-poll surveys yielded confusing results with some giving it to the NDA and others giving it to the Grand Alliance, exit polls have predicted it will be a close call.The BJP right after the exit poll numbers hit the television screens had dismissed them while Lalu Prasad Yadav held a press conference claiming that the Grand Alliance will emerge victorious with nothing more than 185 seats in the 243 seat assembly.[caption id="attachment_2498130" align="alignleft" width="380"] A file photo from the Bihar Elections. AFP[/caption]While most exit polls predicted a neck and neck fight. Today's Chanakya — which had correctly predicted the Delhi Assembly Elections and the Lok Sabha Elections — said that the NDA will emerge victorious.Experts also claimed that it won't be a close call, whichever side wins it will be a clear majority.Firstpost Editor Akshaya Mishra had earlier noted that, "The BJP, if it performs according to the way the exit polls suggest, has many lessons to take from the Bihar election. One, it cannot go on making Narendra Modi and his oratory, its only unique selling proposition. Both might have lost the novelty quotient from overuse. Two, it cannot let the Hindutva forces to dictate its agenda and lead it away from the theme of governance. The backlash is visible. Three, it has to develop a new theme for its campaign. The 2014 template won’t work anymore. Four, the party needs to deliver on the ground. Despite claims of the government, it’s not visible yet."However, the exit polls have maintained the suspense and we don't know if it will be a Grand Alliance win.Meanwhile experts suggest that if the secular Mahagathbandhan loses it has only one person to blame — Lalu Prasad Yadav. Nitish may be looked at as a favourite for the post of CM, it is Lalu's corrupt image that experts say that would pull the alliance down.Firstpost editor Sandipan Sharma had noted, "Unfortunately, Lalu Prasad Yadav is the proverbial mother-in-law that comes as a package with the groom in this election. Bihar has to just decide if it can accept the groom in spite of his in-laws. This is the only choice in the election. The BJP has tried its best by raising a din over Lalu Prasad Yadav. Its campaign has been centred on portraying him as the deal breaker in the purported alliance between Biharis and Nitish Kumar."But then again, Today's Chankya findings pointed to anti-incumbency in the state that could spell doom for Nitish Kumar. When asked 'How will you rate the working of the state government?' the survey found that 41 percent found it was poor, 27 percent thought it was average and only 22 percent thought it was good.Even the working of Nitish Kumar as a chief minister was criticised by 38 percent of the respondents, 30 percent thought it was good and 18 percent thought it was average.Now, with the exit polls done one can only find out who'll be the winner only as the counting begins from 7 am onwards.