Patna: Counting is currently underway for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. Early trends indicate NDA leading on 31 seats and INDIA bloc on nine seats.
Those leading in different constituencies, include Ravi Shankar Prasad in Patna Sahib, Pappu Yadav in Purnia, Misa Bharti in Pataliputra, and Jitan Ram Manjhi in Gaya.
Big names trailing include Nityanand Rai in Ujiyarpur. Dulal Chand Goswami is ahead in Katihar, while Pawan Singh is trailing in Karakat and Pappu Yadav in Purnia. RJD candidate Abhay Kushwaha is leading in Aurangabad.
The first results are expected from Sheohar, Kishanganj, East Champaran, and Pataliputra, with Patna Sahib, Nawada, and Gopalganj likely to report last. Counting began with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes, and the political landscape is expected to become clearer in the next few hours. By 2 pm, scenes of both celebration and disappointment are anticipated.
Forty counting centers have been established for this process. This election saw a total of 497 candidates vying for seats across seven phases.
Even before the results are finalized, BJP workers are conducting religious rituals in various temples in Patna, hoping to secure more than 400 seats. Sweet shops are busy preparing laddus in anticipation of celebrations.
Major exit polls released on June 1 predict that the NDA will form the government for the third consecutive time.
