Bihar Begins Counting Of Votes; First State Election In Covid Times

The counting for the Bihar assembly elections has begun. In a 243-member Assembly, the majority mark is at 122.

The two main alliances in contest are the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan (MGB).

The NDA consists of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), the Hindustani Awam Morcha, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party. This alliance is led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The MGB consists of the Congress and Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD). Since Lalu is in jail, the MGB campaign is being led by Tejashwi Yadav.

While the NDA has announced Nitish Kumar as its chief ministerial candidate, no such statement has come forth from the MGB for Tejasshi Yadav.

Another twist to the story has been added by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), led by Chirag Paswan. Chirag is the late Ram Vilas Paswan's son. The LJP, while being a part of the NDA at the centre, has walked out of it in Bihar and has put up candidates against the JD(U) while not fighting against the BJP.

A third alliance in Bihar is the Grand Democratic Secular Front. The main constituents of this are Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati.

Most exit polls have forecast either a victory for the MGB, or a close election tilting in favour of the MGB.