Modi's Coalition Secures Crucial State Victory
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist alliance is projected to win a decisive victory in Bihar's state election, maintaining control over one of India's poorest and most populous regions. Exit polls released after voting concluded on Tuesday indicate the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will secure a comfortable majority in the state legislature.
The ruling coalition is forecast to win between 133 and 167 seats in the 243-seat assembly, comfortably exceeding the 122 seats needed to form a government. This represents a significant defeat for the opposition alliance led by Rahul Gandhi's Congress party and marks a major political triumph for Modi's government ahead of other crucial state elections.
Record Turnout and Electoral Controversy
The Bihar election, conducted in two phases on November 6 and November 11, witnessed an unprecedented voter participation rate of 66.91 percent, according to India's Election Commission. However, the electoral process was clouded by controversy surrounding the removal of approximately 6.5 million voters from draft electoral rolls earlier this year.
Many eligible voters found themselves unexpectedly excluded, with some even declared deceased despite being alive. Eighty-five-year-old Jitni Devi expressed her frustration to Reuters, stating: "They have declared me dead. People in my village tease me as a dead woman and bank officials shoo me away when I go to withdraw my money."
The election commission defended the voter list revision, describing it as the first comprehensive update since 2003 and necessary after door-to-door verification efforts in June and July that reached all 78.9 million registered voters in Bihar. Nevertheless, opposition leaders and former election officials questioned the timing of this massive purge just months before the election.
Political Implications and National Significance
Bihar plays a crucial role in Indian national politics, and this victory provides substantial momentum for Modi's government, which has faced recent scrutiny over its handling of terrorism threats and allegations of electoral manipulation. The ruling coalition in Bihar is headed by longtime chief minister Nitish Kumar, leader of the Janata Dal United and a key ally supporting Modi's national government.
Rahul Gandhi directly accused the election commission of enabling widespread electoral fraud to benefit Modi, claiming that missing voters could be exploited by the BJP to claim victory. The controversy surrounding Bihar's voter revision has now become central to a broader political storm in Indian politics.
Various exit polls provided similar projections for the election outcome. The Matrize poll predicted the ruling alliance would secure 147 to 167 seats, while Dainik Bhaskar's survey indicated 145 to 160 seats. The People's Insight poll was more conservative, projecting 133 to 148 seats for the NDA against 87 to 102 for the main opposition alliance.
The final election results will be officially declared on Friday, confirming whether the exit poll predictions accurately reflect the will of Bihar's electorate in this closely watched political contest.
