elections

NDA leaders meet Nitish Kumar to discuss Bihar government formation, while RJD reels from defeat and internal family turmoil deepens.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal said it remains committed to public service despite suffering one of its worst electoral setbacks in Bihar, with the party asserting that defeat brings “no sorrow” and victory “no arrogance” as it pledged to continue championing the interests of the poor.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini Acharya on Saturday declared she was “quitting politics” and “disowning” her family, a day after the party’s heavy defeat in the Bihar assembly elections.

Bihar logged its highest-ever turnout of 68.67 per cent in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections on Tuesday, surpassing the first phase and signalling a fiercely contested battle across 122 seats. Heavy polling in Seemanchal and south Bihar districts has raised the stakes for both alliances.

Exit polls on Tuesday projected a comfortable return for the NDA in Bihar, with multiple surveys placing the alliance well past the majority mark. Despite high voter turnout across several districts, the Mahagathbandhan appears set for a disappointing outcome, falling short of its promise of sweeping political change.

The by-poll is being seen as a litmus test for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government and his party, the National Conference (NC).

Bihar logged its highest-ever turnout of 67.14 per cent in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections on Tuesday, surpassing the first phase and signalling a fiercely contested battle across 122 seats. Heavy polling in Seemanchal and south Bihar districts has raised the stakes for both alliances.

Yadav stated that they (RJD) have held around 171 public rallies, covering almost all districts where people from all sections of society participated enthusiastically, adding that they are bracing for a change.

Rashtriya Janata Dal supporters sang and danced outside Tejashwi Yadav's residence in Patna on the occasion of his birthday. Posters of 'Tejashwi Yadav, CM of Bihar' were also put up outside his residence.

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that 501 voters were registered under a single address in Haryana's Hodal town. An on-ground visit to the area revealed a clerical mix-up.

PM Narendra Modi on Friday said Bihar’s record voter turnout reflects trust in the Modi–Nitish track record, attacking the RJD-led opposition and urging voters to reject a return to ‘jungle raj’.

Conventional wisdom suggests high voter turnouts are a sign of anti-incumbency, but that is not always true.