Exit polls predict close contest in Bihar

Four surveys project Grand Alliance winning a majority in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly; two see BJP winning

At least four of six exit polls after the final phase of the Bihar Assembly election see Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) government returning to power in the state. Two other surveys, however, see a Modi-led campaign working for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.
 
According to the Times NOW-CVoter poll, the Grand Alliance — Kumar’s JD(U), Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the Congress — could win a combined 122 seats, compared with a tally of 111 seats that the Bharatiya Janata Party could win along with allies Ram Vilas Pawan’s Lok Janshakti Party and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

 
A NewsNation survey also shows Grand Alliance winning 122 seats, BJP-led alliance is projected to bag 117 seats, and other smaller parties four seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.

The ABP News exit poll, sim,ilarly, expects Grand Alliance to win 130 seats and the BJP-led Alliance to bag 108. Others are seen getting five.
 
According to a NewsX poll, conducted by CNX, the gap in the number of seats won by the two main alliances could be even wider — while Grand Alliance could win 135 seats, BJP and allies are seen bagging 95 and others 13.
 

Among those predicting an upset for Nitish Kumar in Bihar, the India Today-Cicero poll sees the BJP-led alliance winning 119 seats, Grand Alliance coming a close second with 117 and others seven seats. Today's Chanakya's projection, meanwhile, is the most favourable to the BJP alliance. It sees the coalition winning 155 seats, compared with Grand Alliance's 83 and others' five.  

BATTLEGROUND BIHAR