PATNA: The trends right now show a neck-and-neck fight between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, which constitutes the RJD, the Congress and the Left parties. However, chief minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) is holding back the NDA even as the BJP is ahead of the JD(U) in terms of leads. This might turn out to be another setback for Nitish Kumar. The most noticeable change in fortunes was of the LJP’s Chirag Paswan, whose party is currently leading on nine seats, and in case of a Hung Assembly, can play a crucial role.

The fate of the Nitish-led JD(U) government, which has helmed Bihar for a decade and a half, will be decided on Tuesday as election results to the 243-member legislative assembly will be declared. Besides, the fate of 3,558 candidates, including 370 women and a transgender, will also be decided. The counting of votes began at 8 am at 55 centres across 38 districts.

The results will decide if the voters have decided to hand over the state’s baton to the Grand alliance (Mahagathbandhan) led by its CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav, which constitutes the RJD, the Congress and Left parties.

The voter turnout in the first, second and third phases of voting being held on October 28, November 3 and November 7 respectively, were recorded at 54 per cent, 55.7 per cent and 56.02 per cent respectively.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted: "The BJP is doing very well across. It is leading in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and even Telangana by-polls... Not to mention Bihar where, along with its allies, it is doing much better than what the exit polls had predicted... It is not over till its over."

The celebrations that had started at Lalu Prasad's 10, Circular Road, residence in Patna around one hour into counting were put on hold an hour later as the trends swung the NDA's way, putting it neck and neck with the Grand Alliance. While only first rounds have been counted yet, the fact that these were trends for 243 seats made both camps cautious.

The most noticeable change in fortunes was of the LJP's Chirag Paswan. The party is now leading on eight seats, and in case of a Hung Assembly, can play a crucial role. With over 5.5% of the share, should the LJP hold on, it would be a huge boost to the political career of the young Paswan, and his gamble of walking out of the NDA in Bihar at the last moment.

The NDA seemed to be doing well in North Bihar, which voted in the third phase and includes some of its strongholds, and the Grand Alliance in the Magadh and Bhojpur belts, where polling was held in the first and second phases. The RJD seemed to be emerging as the single largest party, followed by the BJP, with the JD(U) third. The Congress seemed to be doing well. The AIMIM, which was seen as having a good chance in the Seemanchal region, was ahead in two seats and its ally BSP in one.