Bihar poll verdict: Fate of 2,616 candidates to be decided today

After a high-decibel campaign followed by unprecedented turnout of voters in the two-phased Bihar assembly elections, the people of state wait eagerly for Friday's results, which will have a bearing not only in the eastern state but on national politics.

- HT Correspondent

The outcome will decide whether JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar will get a record fifth term as Bihar's chief minister or whether it will be the debut on the top post for RJD's Tejashwi Yadav.

A record 67.13% of the 74.5 million eligible voters exercised their franchise across 243 constituencies in two phases on November 6 and 11, sealing the fate of 2,616 candidates in fray.

On the eve of the counting, the mood in both the major camps—the ruling JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Grand Alliance headed by RJD—was upbeat, even as almost all exit polls predicted a win for the ruling coalition.