Patna, Nov 12 (NationPress) Following the IANS-Matrize Exit Poll, which forecasts a decisive triumph for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar with a projected 48 percent vote share and over 150 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared this would be “the mother of all victories.” The party expressed its assurance that under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s guidance, the NDA will establish a government with an unprecedented majority.

In a conversation with IANS, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale remarked, “The Nitish Kumar administration has achieved significant progress in the state. His leadership has made substantial contributions to Bihar’s development. The impressive voter turnout indicates the public’s confidence in him. He has made commendable decisions, including providing Rs 10,000 to women in Bihar.”

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah-Deo mirrored this optimism, stating, “There has been a strong sense of belief that under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the NDA government will once again secure a decisive majority. Almost every exit poll forecasts a massive mandate, and none are predicting otherwise. This will indeed be the mother of all victories.”

Minister from Uttar Pradesh, Danish Azad Ansari, added, “The exit polls truly reflect the sentiments of the Bihar populace. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Nitish government has made remarkable strides in the state’s overall development, focusing on education, health, safety, and employment.

Our NDA government has transitioned Bihar away from lawlessness and firmly onto a path of progress. This has bolstered the public's trust in our governance, and the record voter turnout reinforces that the public endorses the Modi-Nitish double-engine government.”

Bihar Minister Santosh Kumar Suman remarked, “The people are the true rulers. Our focus isn’t on celebrating; it’s on working. If the public decides in our favor, we will initiate our work with renewed vigor.

There is a palpable wave of support for the NDA across Bihar, and we might even exceed the record set in 2010. However, now is not the time for celebration. The NDA is committed to action, and as soon as we receive the public's mandate, our work will commence.”

On the other hand, the Congress dismissed the exit poll predictions, asserting that such surveys often turn out to be inaccurate.

Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, stated, “Exit polls can sometimes be accurate, but they can also be misleading. We prefer to wait and observe how the situation develops. Currently, most exit polls indicate favorable results for the NDA, but the genuine outcome will be revealed on November 14.”

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur further questioned the reliability of exit polls, remarking, “The true results will emerge post-November 14. In Jharkhand, exit polls predicted the NDA would win 42 to 50 seats, yet the final results were significantly different. Similarly, the forecast of 130 to 150 seats for Bihar may be overstated. Such narratives are often crafted to sway public perception.”

Meanwhile, the double-engine government led by Nitish Kumar is anticipated to reclaim power with a robust mandate in the fiercely contested Bihar Assembly elections, while the Mahagathbandhan appears set to secure a distant second place, according to the IANS-Matrize Exit Poll.

The exit poll projections suggest that the BJP-led NDA is poised to capture 48 percent of the votes, effectively translating to nearly a two-thirds majority in the 243-member Assembly, while the Mahagathbandhan is projected to achieve a mere 37 percent vote share, which equates to approximately 70-90 seats for the RJD-Congress alliance.

Another significant highlight from the exit polls is the resurgence of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which faced considerable scrutiny leading up to the elections due to the Chief Minister's health issues.

The exit poll indicates a robust consolidation of JD(U) voters, with the party potentially emerging as the single largest entity, surpassing both its ally BJP and adversary RJD.

The BJP is expected to maintain its performance, similar to the previous election in 2020, and is projected to secure 65-73 seats with a vote share of around 19 percent.

The RJD is likely to achieve a 21 percent vote share, translating to 53-58 seats, whereas its primary ally, the Congress, is anticipated to finish with a mere 7 percent vote share, resulting in 10-12 seats.

If the exit poll forecasts materialize on November 14, it would signify a resounding mandate for the Nitish Kumar government while marking a calamitous performance for the Mahagathbandhan, despite their vigorous campaign regarding alleged electoral fraud.

The smaller NDA factions, including Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, are projected to secure 2, 5, and 2 percent vote shares respectively. Together, these parties are expected to contribute 12-16 seats to the NDA’s tally, raising it to between 147-167 seats.

For the Mahagathbandhan, the CPI(ML), CPI, CPI (M), and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) are predicted to gather a 9 percent vote share, leading to approximately 10-18 seats. Cumulatively, the grand alliance is projected to linger around the 70-90 seats mark.

The Prashant Kishor-led Jan Suraaj Party is anticipated to make a notable entry with a 5 percent vote share, while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is predicted to acquire 1 percent vote share.

While Jan Suraaj might win 0-2 seats, AIMIM could secure victories in 2-3 constituencies.

In total, other parties are likely to obtain a 9 percent vote share and win in about 0-5 seats.

The projections provided by the IANS-Matrize Exit Polls come with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. Over 66,000 individuals were surveyed to reach these conclusions, which included perspectives from over 31,000 males, over 19,000 females, and over 15,000 young voters, collected until November 11 – during the second phase of polling, which recorded a historic voter turnout.