Exit polls predict NDA win in Bihar; Ph-II sees record turnout

Most exit polls on Tuesday evening predicted a comfortable victory for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) inthe 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United (JDU) set to significantly improve its tally of 43 seats that it secured five years ago.

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Some of the exit polls claimed that while more men voted forthe Opposition INDIA bloc, the women vote went in favour of the NDA. P-Marg, an exit poll agency, claimed 40 percent male electors voted for the NDA, against 45 per cent women voting for the alliance, while 41 per cent of male voters and 39 per cent of women voters opted for the INDIA bloc.

‘The exit polls were announced after voting for phase two, the concluding phase, of the polls ended on Tuesday evening across remaining 122 of the total 243 seats. Voter turnout in this phase reached a historic high of 69 per cent, surpassing the 65.08 per cent recorded in the first phase that took place on November 6 across 121 seats. The Election Commission (EC) had then said that phase one turnout was the highest ever in Bihar’s electoral history since the first-ever election in the state took place in 1951-52. The counting of votes is on Friday.