12 November,2025 07:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
A security personnel stands guard at a polling station during the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, in Jehanabad, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI
The Axis My India exit poll on Wednesday projected that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would lead over the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is expected to emerge as the single-largest party in the upcoming Assembly elections, results for which will be announced on Friday, news agency PTI reported.
The poll predicts the ruling NDA - comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) as the major allies - to win 121-141 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan - which consists of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties - is expected to secure 98-118 seats. Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj is likely to get 0-2 seats.
Party-wise projections
RJD: 67-76 seats (single-largest party)
JD(U): 56-62 seats
BJP: 50-56 seats
Congress: 17-21 seats
Vikassheel Insaan Party: 3-5 seats
Left parties: 10-14 seats
While NDA is likely to get 43 per cent vote share, Axis My India has predicted 41 per cent vote share for Mahagathbandhan, and 4 per cent for Jan Suraaj.
The poll also indicated that 34 per cent of voters prefer RJD's Tejashwi Yadav as chief minister, while 22 per cent favour incumbent Nitish Kumar, PTI reported.
The exit poll also highlighted a gender-based vote split - NDA is expected to secure 41 per cent male votes and 45 per cent female votes, while Mahagathbandhan is projected to get 42 per cent male votes and 40 per cent female votes.
Bihar Election 2025 was held in two phases - November 6 and 11, with voter turnout provisionally recorded at 67.14 per cent in the second phase, marking the highest ever in the state.
Other exit polls have broadly aligned with Axis My India's predictions:
Matrize Exit Poll: NDA 147-167 seats, Mahagathbandhan 70-90, Jan Suraaj 0-2
Dainik Bhaskar: NDA 145-160, Mahagathbandhan 73-91
The People's Insight: NDA 133-148, Mahagathbandhan 87-102, Jan Suraaj 0-2
The People's Pulse: NDA 133-159, Mahagathbandhan 75-101, Jan Suraaj 0-5
JVC: NDA 135-150, Mahagathbandhan 88-103
Polstrat: NDA 133-148, Mahagathbandhan 87-102
Chanakya Strategies: NDA 130-138, Mahagathbandhan 100-108, Jan Suraaj 0
P-Marq: NDA 142-162, Mahagathbandhan 80-98, Jan Suraaj 1-4
The majority mark in the 243-member assembly is 122 seats.
Exit polls are based on voter interviews immediately after they cast their votes and may differ from the final results. While NDA seeks to return to power in Bihar, the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, with Yadav as its chief ministerial face, is aiming to form the next government.
(With PTI inputs)
