Win by even one vote is ultimately a victory: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar

The contest is mainly between the ruling National Democratic Alliance of JD(U)- BJP led by Nitish Kumar and the Opposition Grand Alliance with Tejashwi Yadav as its CM face.The Grand Alliance was the first to announce its seat sharing formula. Of the 243 total, the RJD will contest 144 seats, Congress-70 seats, CPI (ML)-19 seats, CPI-6 seats and CPM-4 seats. VIP and JMM will be accommodated from RJD’s quota, but the VIP is not happy with this.The JD(U) and RJD are likely to split the seats 50:50. Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP, which was formerly with the NDA, has broken ranks and would put up candidates against the JD(U). Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), which was earlier with the Opposition , will be accommodated in the JD(U) quota.

The maximum number of voters per polling station had been reduced from 1,500 to 1,000 to allow for social distancing.The EC Has made arrangements for 7 lakh units of hand sanitisers, 46 lakh masks and 6 lakh PPE kits, besides face shields and single use gloves.Covid-19 positive voters will be allowed to vote in the last hour of polling separately, under the supervision of local health officials. Timings for polling have been extended by an hour, to 6 pm, at all booths except those categorised as affected by Left Wing Extremism.

In the Bihar elections, because of the pandemic precautions, the Election Commission has given the option of online nomination filing of candidates. If a candidate wants to file the nomination physically, then only two persons can accompany him instead of five earlier. The number of vehicles has also been restricted to two, from five vehicles earlier. Filing of nominations may not be a show of strength.

Election Commission has announced that all voters above the age of 80 years will get postal ballots to cast their votes. This option shall also be available to persons with physical disability and Covid-19 patients. Familiar pictures of elderly people lining up for voting on election day will be missing in Bihar this time.