Moods differ from camp to camp in Patna before D-day

They have done their best but now it is the moment of truth for the chief minister hopefuls of Bihar.

The noisy campaigning and the five-phase polling are done. The results will be out on Sunday. Now, those hopeful of ascending the CM's seat are cloistered with their close advisers, brainstorming.

Circular Road in the New Capital Region of Patna is abuzz with journalists. Almost all big and small media house make their presence felt with OB vans, parked on both sides of the road.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar - hopeful of a third term - is now at 7 Circular Road. The building shares a boundary with 10 Circular Road, the residence of his ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad. (A GAME OF NUMBERS)

The mood at both the colonial bungalows is jovial with a pinch of restraint.

A security guard at Kumar's house said: "Saheb is in a good mood after a long time. He took a walk in the morning. No meetings are scheduled today (Friday) but senior ministers have turned up."

Sources said Kumar met his prime election strategist Prashant Kishor - who jumped boat from the NDA ship - and senior ministers Vijay Chaudhary and Shyam Rajak.

Asked if the chief minister was planning to visit a temple to seek divine intervention, a security guard said: "He doesn't believe in these things."

At Lalu's house the atmosphere was relaxed. His son Tej Pratap was upbeat. "We are going to win more than 190 seats," he said.

Bihar Assembly has 243 seats. Asked about his mother, the former chief minister, Rabri Devi, he said she was tired after the hustle bustle of the election and was resting.

Lalu, however, was meeting the party cadre, many of whom he addressed by their first names. He, too, was very confident about the performance of the Grand Alliance. "Rajnath Singh (Union home minister) conceded defeat when he said Amit Shah would get a second term irrespective of the Bihar election results," he said.

At the opposing camp, led by the BJP the mood was palpably tenser. Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who is usually media friendly, shied away from the cameras. Calls to his office provided no result. He had a long meeting with Bihar BJP President Mangal Pandey and senior leader Nand Kishore Yadav.

When he finally met journalist at his official resident 1 Polo Road, near the airport, he said: "There's nothing for today. We will meet on Sunday."

Bihar's moment of truth

On Sunday, the curtains will descend on the Bihar Assembly election - which has, at different times, been billed as a duel between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The counting of votes for the 243 seats will begin by 8 am.

The verdict would be apparent by early afternoon.

The Election Commission has thrown a ring of security around all the 42 counting centres across the state.

Sources said 84 companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed on Sunday.

Barricades manned by CISF and CRPF jawans would be set up at least 100 metres from the counting centres. Armed policemen will also be present, depending on the number of supporters of the parties.

For the security of the strong rooms, the EC has deployed 14 companies of CISF. A total of 735 companies of central paramilitary forces were employed during the five phases of the elections, which were mostly peaceful. They started departing on Friday.

Sources said almost 50 companies of CISF, CRPF, SSB and RAF will stay back in the state till the festive season ends. Political parties from both sides have retreated indoors to recuperate from the hectic campaigning. Whatever the results, a long road stretches out for both sides after the results come in on Sunday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did step out of his 7 Circular Road residence on Friday to have dosa with his aides at a Patna restaurant.

Both sides have placed orders for garlands and crackers, anticipating victory.

The flower market near Patna Junction is busy with client of different political hue. Marigold garlands and rose bouquets are high in demand. Satyendra Kumar, a florist, said, "Political workers of all hues are coming since Thursday evening. I have received 50 orders for Sunday. Most of them are booked by Grand Alliance workers. BJP workers are also coming, but they are hesitant to place large orders."