PATNA: Even as trends show a clear lead for the NDA, with the BJP increasing its gap against the rest, the Opposition is holding onto hope given the peculiarity of counting in this election.

Given the special coronavirus circumstances, the Election Commission had capped the maximum number of voters per booth from a maximum of 1,500 to 1,000. This means an increase in the number of polling booths, from where votes are to be counted on Tuesday.

It is this which is causing counting to be slower than usual, with only 10% of the vote counted till noon. Opposition leaders say that in multiple seats, counting could go up to 30 to 35 rounds, which leaves them scope for a comeback, particularly with 70 seats so far with wafer-thin margins.