Bihar assembly election results today, counting to begin at 8 am

Bihar is all set for the big announcement of the assembly election results, as the counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Friday. Counting will take place across all 243 constituencies in the state. The Election Commission said that postal ballots will be counted first, followed by the counting of EVM votes starting at 8:30 am.

Results will be compiled and made available round-wise and constituency-wise by the respective ROs on the official EC results portal.

"The commission advises all to refer only to this portal for accurate and verified updates and not rely on any hearsay or unofficial sources. TV channels and internet media channels are also advised accordingly," the EC cautioned.

Security arrangements have been put in place for the counting of votes in the Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, officials said. The process will be carried out across 46 counting centres spread over 38 districts.

Authorities have also ordered the closure of schools in Patna on Friday to ensure a smooth counting process. Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly were held in two phases, on November 6 and 11, witnessing a record voter turnout of 67.13 per cent. Around 7.45 crore voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 2,616 candidates.

According to the Election Commission, counting arrangements have been made in all 243 constituencies. Each will be managed by a Returning Officer and overseen by a Counting Observer in the presence of candidates or their agents. A total of 4,372 counting tables have been set up, each supervised by one counting officer, an assistant, and a micro-observer. More than 18,000 Counting Agents appointed by contesting candidates will monitor the process.

 A senior police officer said security has been tightened across the state, with personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Bihar Police deployed at all counting centres. An additional 106 companies of security forces from other states have also been stationed in Bihar to maintain law and order.

All EVMs and VVPATs used during polling have been stored in strong rooms secured with double locks and 24-hour CCTV surveillance. The inner security cordon at counting centres has been assigned to CAPF, while state police are in charge of the outer perimeter.

Political stakes are high as Bihar awaits the outcome. Nitish Kumar, the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister, is seeking another term with NDA support, while Tejashwi Yadav leads the Mahagathbandhan alliance in hopes of unseating him.

Exit polls have predicted an edge for the NDA. The Axis My India survey suggests the NDA could secure 121–141 seats, while Chanakya forecasts a stronger showing with around 160 seats. The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, though projected to emerge as the single largest party, is likely to fall short of a majority.

In 2020, the NDA had won 125 seats against the Mahagathbandhan’s 110, crossing the majority mark of 122. The final results on Friday will determine whether Nitish Kumar retains power or Tejashwi Yadav ushers in a change.

This election holds added significance as it follows Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, which saw the removal of over 6.5 million names and the inclusion of 2.15 million new voters. The Opposition had criticised the process, alleging large-scale voter deletion under the “voter chori” campaign—making this count a decisive test for both the Election Commission and the political alliances.
(With PTI Inputs)