Tejashwi Yadav Confident of Mahagathbandhan Victory in Bihar Despite Lower Turnout

Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party, has asserted that the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) will win all 4 Bihar Lok Sabha seats in the first phase of the elections. He mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) claim of winning '400-plus' seats, calling it a 'flop movie', despite a lower voter turnout compared to the 2019 elections.

Yadav released the 'Parivartan Patra' (manifesto) for the Lok Sabha elections at the RJD party office in Patna on Saturday. He said that the entire environment is in favor of the Mahagathbandhan and that the BJP's promises made in 2014 and 2019 were not fulfilled. Yadav also highlighted key issues in Bihar, such as unemployment, inflation, poverty, investment, migration, and floods, and said that the people of BJP are very worried this day.

The former deputy chief minister asserted that Bihar will give 'shocking results' this time, and that the public is tired of the BJP's statements and false promises. Mukesh Sahani, the chief of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), a part of the Grand Alliance, echoed a similar view, stating that they will win not only the four seats that went to polls in the first phase but also all the remaining 36 constituencies in the upcoming phases.

Why this matters: The outcome of the Bihar Lok Sabha elections could have significant implications for the national political landscape, as it is seen as a key battleground state. The performance of the Mahagathbandhan and the BJP in Bihar may provide insights into the mood of the electorate and the effectiveness of their respective campaign strategies.

According to the Bihar Chief Election Officer, the average voter turnout till 6 pm on the polling day was 48.23%, which is 5% less than the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The highest voter turnout was recorded in Aurangabad at 49.95%, followed by Gaya at 48.54%, Jamui at 47.09%, and Nawada at 40.20%. Tight security arrangements were in place, and the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister urged people to exercise their franchise in large numbers for the overall growth of the country and the state.

Key Takeaways

• Tejashwi Yadav claims Mahagathbandhan will win all 4 Bihar LS seats in phase 1.
• Yadav mocks BJP's '400-plus' seats claim, says their promises were unfulfilled.
• Voter turnout in phase 1 was 48.23%, 5% less than 2019 LS elections.
• Mahagathbandhan confident of winning not just 4 seats, but all 36 constituencies.
• Bihar LS polls seen as key battleground, outcome may impact national politics.