Delhi: As vote counting picked up pace on Friday for the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections, early trends indicated a clear advantage for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). A closer look at the numbers suggests one major factor behind this surge — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aggressive and strategically planned campaign across the state.
Counting began under heavy security, with postal ballots opened at 8 a.m. and EVM votes tallied from 8:30 a.m. Multi-layered arrangements were deployed across all 243 constituencies, where CAPF personnel guarded the inner cordons while the Bihar Police managed the outer security rings.
By around 9 a.m., the BJP — the NDA’s primary force — was already showing strong leads in key constituencies, steadily pushing the alliance past the halfway mark required to form the next government.
According to political analysts, this momentum is closely linked to PM Modi’s extensive outreach during the campaign. Over the course of the election, the Prime Minister held 14 rallies and a major roadshow, covering politically crucial districts. His repeated visits not only amplified the NDA’s messaging but also boosted the morale of local cadres.
Constituencies where PM Modi campaigned witnessed noticeably higher voter turnout compared to those where he did not appear. Bihar recorded enthusiastic participation in both phases of polling — with the second phase registering a provisional turnout of 67.14%, indicating strong public engagement.
PM Modi had also expressed confidence after the polls, calling the “record turnout” a reflection of the people’s strong resolve to “retain the NDA government”.
His campaign began with a symbolic gesture on October 24, when he visited the ancestral village of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur in Samastipur. The Prime Minister paid floral tribute to the iconic socialist leader and met his family before officially kicking off the NDA’s election push.
