JOIN USNDTV exit poll goes with NDA
The NDTV exit poll released on Friday predicted a majority for the NDA in the Bihar Assembly elections, the third out of seven such polls to give the BJP-led coalition an upper hand in the keenly fought electoral battle.
The poll conducted by NDTV in association with Hansa Research gave the NDA 125 seats, three seats more than the majority mark of 122 in a House of 243. The JD(U)-led coalition could get 110, while other parties may be lucky in eight seats.
Of the six exit polls on Thursday, four gave the Grand Alliance the edge while one – Today’s Chanakya – predicted a thumping victory for the NDA. One exit poll predicted a hung Assembly.
According to the exit polls by NDTV for first phase of elections in which 49 seats went to polls, the Grand Alliance could win in 28 seats, while the NDA may get 20, leaving one for “others”.
While the first phase went to the Grand Alliance, the BJP combine regained ground and inched closer to the Nitish-led grouping. NDA could get 19 out of 32 seats, while the JD(U) combine could get 12 and one for “others”.
The NDA combine was predicted to win 28 out of 50 seats that went to polls in the third phase, while the Grand Alliance could get 21 and one for “others”. The fourth phase also went to NDA, which could win 31 as against Grand Alliance’s 21. Other parties could bag three seats.
The Grand Alliance had a slight edge in the fifth and final phase of polls in Seemanchal region where it was perceived to have huge influence. The JD(U) combine could get 28, while the NDA 27 and “others” could get two seats.
Reacting to the exit poll, BJP leader Chandan Mitra said a defeat for Grand Alliance would not be an end to RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s political life but it would be “much more difficult” for the JD(U) mascot Nitish Kumar. He said a defeat for the NDA would dent the invincibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.