Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced plans to establish a defence corridor in Bihar, declaring the era of "katta" (country-made guns) and "laltane" (lanterns) is over. Addressing rallies in Ramgarh and Karakat Assembly seats, he stated Bihar will now produce missiles and cannons instead. Singh described the NDA manifesto as "Atal Pratigya," promising job opportunities through MSME and defence corridors rather than government jobs for every household. He accused Congress of divisive politics, citing Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's statement equating Congress with Muslims. Singh criticized Rahul Gandhi for alleging Election Commission vote theft, emphasizing NDA's commitment to deliverable promises and nation-building over vote-bank politics.

Counting for the 243-seat Bihar assembly begins today at 8am after two phases of voting. The NDA hopes to retain power under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, backed by PM Modi’s campaigning. The Mahagathbandhan’s Tejashwi Yadav says he will win with a “thumping majority” and has pitched major job promises. Exit polls give the NDA an edge, though past polls in Bihar have been wrong. The Election Commission has placed strong security at all counting centres. Bihar recorded its highest-ever turnout, raising chances of a surprise result. Both alliances accuse each other of pressure tactics as tension builds before the final numbers. (PC: HT)

Exit polls for the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 predict a win for the ruling NDA. Most surveys, including Axis My India and Today’s Chanakya, gave the NDA 121 to 172 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan was projected to win 65 to 118 seats. The majority mark in the 243-member Assembly is 122. NDA leaders said the results show faith in Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rejected the predictions, saying the NDA is “nervous and anxious.” Congress leaders also urged people to “wait for the real results” before believing the exit polls. (PC: HT)

Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in the ongoing Assembly elections, sparking political speculation about the potential outcome. Historically, higher voter participation in the state has often signaled anti-incumbency waves, posing concern for the ruling NDA. Political analysts note that increased turnout, especially in rural and youth-dominated constituencies, may reflect public desire for change. The Election Commission reported enthusiastic participation from women and first-time voters. While the NDA remains confident of its development agenda, opposition parties like the Mahagathbandhan view the turnout as a sign of shifting public sentiment ahead of results.

Bihar's Assembly elections witnessed historic women voter participation Tuesday, with female turnout reaching 71.6% exceeding male turnout by 8.8 percentage points. This surpasses the previous 2015 record when women outpaced men by 7.16 points. The state achieved its highest-ever overall voter turnout at 66.91%. Significantly, approximately 5 lakh more women than men cast their votes in absolute numbers, marking unprecedented female political engagement. The remarkable gender gap in participation reflects growing women's involvement in Bihar's democratic process. Women voters queued extensively across polling stations, including West Champaran, demonstrating enthusiastic participation. This milestone represents a significant shift in Bihar's electoral demographics, with women now not just matching but substantially exceeding male voter participation rates. (PC: The Indian Express & The Federal)

The Axis My India exit poll predicts a win for the NDA in Bihar with 121–140 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan may get 98–118 seats. The survey shows that more women voted for the NDA, while first-time and young voters favoured the Mahagathbandhan. The RJD-led alliance retained its Muslim-Yadav vote banks, while the NDA gained strong support from upper castes and older voters. Unemployed people and students backed the Opposition, but housewives and the self-employed supported the ruling alliance. Analysts warn that exit polls are not always accurate, and the final results may differ. (PC: PTI)

Exit polls ahead of the Bihar assembly elections indicate a narrow lead for the NDA, but RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has confidently dismissed these projections. He asserted that the Mahagathbandhan will cross the 160-seat mark, citing strong voter turnout among youth and women seeking change. Tejashwi claimed his ground-level feedback from across districts shows a clear wave for the opposition alliance. He also criticised exit polls as tools to influence public perception, expressing confidence that Bihar will witness a political turnaround once the actual results are declared.

The Congress party has accused Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of aiding the alleged theft of 4.5 kg of gold from Sabarimala Temple. The controversy involves gold-plated copper casings from temple idols and fittings, removed in 2019 by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), with nearly 475 g still missing. Opposition leaders claim the government protected those responsible, calling it the biggest fraud in the temple’s history. The Congress has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and the resignation of officials linked to the alleged misappropriation. (PC: The Hindu)

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party failed to make a strong impact in its Bihar debut, as exit polls showed a clear win for the ruling NDA. Kishor had said his party would be either “arsh par” (at the top) or “farsh par” (on the floor) — and results suggest the latter. Pollsters predict the NDA to win over 130 seats, while the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan may get 70–100. Jan Suraaj is expected to win only 0–5 seats. Despite Kishor’s year-long padyatra and large rallies, analysts say his campaign has not translated into votes. Results will be declared on November 14. (PC: PTI)

Exit polls for the 2025 Bihar Assembly election predict a clear win for the NDA led by Nitish Kumar. Most surveys show the alliance securing between 130 and 167 seats, crossing the majority mark of 122. The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan is projected to win around 70 to 100 seats, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is expected to get only 0 to 3 seats. Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout of 67.14% in this election. The final results will be declared on November 14. If predictions hold true, Nitish Kumar is likely to continue as the state’s chief minister. (PC: @Jduonline/X via PTI Photo)