BOTH ALLIANCES MAKE THEIR OWN CLAIMS ABOUT BIHAR PHASE 1

High voter turnout highlights close contest, BJP leads in strategy and momentum.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

Record voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar elections has made the race highly competitive. Experts suggest that the initial phase indicates a tight contest between the NDA and the Grand Alliance. This has raised concerns within the Grand Alliance camp, as neutral voters are likely to play a crucial role in deciding outcomes in closely fought constituencies.

The BJP has historically been successful in wooing neutral voters. In the previous election, it leveraged this strategy to defeat the opposition. Additionally, the first phase has seen an increase in women voters, a demographic the BJP is actively considering in its campaign strategy. While the overall picture will become clearer after the second phase of voting, the BJP appears to have had the upper hand so far.