Vijay Kumar Sinha Hails Exit Polls as Bihar’s Pride

Patna, November 12: Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha looked almost relieved when the exit polls started flashing on TV screens Tuesday evening. He didn’t wait for official numbers. “The people have spoken for a better Bihar,” he said, standing before a crowd of microphones, smiling like someone who already knew how the story might end.

Sinha thanked voters for what he called their “expression of faith” in the double-engine government of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. Then he shifted tone to more personal, less political. “Your sentiments,” he said, “will become a symbol of a more respected future for Bihar.”

That line wasn’t about data or seats. It was about something deeper. For years, the word “Bihari” has been a punchline in other parts of India. Sinha said people had “taught a lesson” to those who turned that word into an insult.

Numbers Fueling The Optimism

According to figures carried by The News Mill, at least two major exit polls gave the NDA a clear edge. One projected 133 to 159 seats for the alliance. Another had it between 137 and 152. The Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD, was shown trailing with 75 to 101. Smaller parties barely registered.

If those numbers hold, the NDA crosses the halfway mark of 122 without breaking a sweat. That’s why the smiles inside the ruling camp aren’t forced.

Beyond The Math

There’s a reason Sinha’s speech sounded more emotional than technical. Bihar politics has always been layered with pride and insecurity, especially around how the rest of India views the state. Every few years, someone in power tries to flip that script. Sinha’s words did exactly that, suggesting that this election isn’t only about development, but about dignity.

He wasn’t reading from a statement. His tone was casual, a bit raw, the way leaders speak when they sense the wind is in their favor. “This is about honour,” he said quietly to one of his aides afterward, according to local reporters on the scene.

The Mood Inside The NDA

Union Minister Nityanand Rai joined in soon after, calling the projections a “seal of approval” for the Modi-Nitish model. The phrase might sound rehearsed, but the enthusiasm around him wasn’t. In the BJP offices, workers were already putting up banners and planning celebrations. The confidence, maybe even overconfidence, was visible.

For the NDA, the campaign had been built around stability. Nitish Kumar’s return to the alliance in 2022 after a messy split was risky at the time, but now looks like a tactical win. Their pitch was straightforward: welfare, roads, electricity, and women’s empowerment, plus a familiar argument that a BJP-backed government in Delhi helps things move faster in Patna.

Opposition Holding Its Breath

The RJD and its partners haven’t said much since the exit polls dropped. They’ve seen this film before. Pollsters in Bihar often miss what happens on the ground. In 2020, many called a sweep for the NDA, only for the final count to come down to a handful of seats.

Still, there’s an edge of worry in the opposition camp. Tejashwi Yadav’s campaign drew crowds, but crowd size doesn’t always convert to votes. His message of jobs and youth opportunity had energy, yet the NDA’s story of continuity of steady growth, not radical change, might have resonated more than expected.

What’s At Stake

Counting will begin soon, and Bihar will do what it always does: surprise someone. The state’s voters rarely follow predictions. But for now, the NDA smells victory, and its leaders are already using the moment to tell a bigger stor,y one that ties power to pride.

Sinha’s statement summed it up neatly. It wasn’t a statistic or a slogan. It was an emotion. “Every Bihari’s honour,” he said, “is what this mandate will stand for.”

He didn’t sound like he was campaigning anymore. He sounded like someone defending home turf.

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Ananya Sharma

Senior Political Correspondent – Ananya@hindustanherald.in – Web

Covers Indian politics, governance, and policy developments with over a decade of experience in political reporting.

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