PATNA: The counting of votes that will dictate the Bihar elections 2020 has begun and so far, its neck-and-neck between the National Democratic Alliance and the Grand Alliance. However, the NDA has pulled ahead of the Mahagathbandhan with BJP outperforming its ally and incumbent JDU. In fact, trends show that its currently the single largest party. If this trend holds for until the final tally, this will the first time BJP that will be in the majority in Bihar.

The results this year will decide if the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United (JDU) party will remain at the helm as it has over the last 15 years. Or, there could be a change of guard, with the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), coming into power. This includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and left-leaning parties.

Voting already took place in three phases on October 28, November 2, and November 7. The turnout clocked in at 54%, 55.7% and 56.02% respectively.

Exit polls project that the RJD-Congress-Left alliance has a lead over the JDU-BJP coalition which could mean a non-JDU government in the state of Bihar for the first time in 15 years.

Who's in the lead?

Early trends showed the Grand Alliance ahead of the NDA but the surge in BJP numbers have now put the NDA ahead of the Mahagathbandhan. Meanwhile, the Congress is underperforming.

Party Won Leading
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen 0 2
Bahujan Samaj Party 0 1
Bharatiya Janata Party 0 68
Communist Party of India 0 3
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 0 3
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) 0 13
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) 0 1
Independent 0 4
Indian National Congress 0 21
Janata Dal (United) 0 47
Lok Jan Shakti Party 0 4
Rashtriya Janata Dal 0 64
Vikassheel Insaan Party 0 6
Total 0 237