Patna experienced an unusually tranquil morning on election results day, even as tension soared across the state prior to the Bihar Assembly vote count. Just before the counting process commenced, prominent state leaders were seen engaging in peaceful activities such as walking, praying, and quietly preparing for a day that could lead to either celebration or conflict. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar maintained his routine, taking a morning walk around 6:30 am at his residence on 1 Aney Marg. Reports indicated heightened security measures, with additional units of the Bihar Military Police deployed at both entrances as a precaution.
Similarly, RJD leader Lalu Prasad was spotted taking an early stroll at his residence on 10 Circular Road, with no visible crowd of supporters, contrasting the anticipated excitement of the day. Inside, preparations were underway as his family readied themselves for the results. Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu’s elder son and candidate from Mahua, spent the night before inspecting the strong room at Raj Narain College in Vaishali, expressing confidence in the arrangements. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha offered prayers ahead of the day’s events, calling it ‘the most historically important day of the grand festival of democracy’ and predicting favorable results for both Bihar and the nation. Party offices across Patna exhibited an unexpectedly muted atmosphere.
The Congress headquarters at Sadaqat Ashram, typically bustling on election days, saw minimal activity despite increased security. The Jan Suraaj office in Patliputra was similarly quiet with only a few workers present. Political analysts noted that supporters were directing their focus towards the 46 counting centers across the 38 districts, where the real action was set to unfold. Preparations for celebrations were discreetly underway, with several parties organizing hundreds of kilograms of sweets in anticipation of victory, even before trends were known.
This year’s election features the NDA, comprising the BJP and JD(U) contesting 101 seats each, LJP (Ram Vilas) 29, RLM 6, and HAM 6, competing against the Grand Alliance, where the RJD is contesting 143 seats, Congress 61, Left parties 30, and VIP 9. There are friendly contests within the alliance on seats such as Chainpur, Kargahar, Narkatiaganj, Sikandra, Kahalgaon, and Sultanganj. As the counting commences, the calm in Patna’s political circles suggests that the real storm is yet to come.