Overview
- Election Commission data cited by The Week showed the Vikassheel Insaan Party leading in just one constituency during initial counting.
- Midday tallies reported the National Democratic Alliance ahead statewide, with the Mahagathbandhan trailing in several updates.
- In Gaura Bauram, VIP candidate Santosh Sahani trailed BJP’s Sujit Kumar by about 4,400 votes after five rounds, with RJD’s Afzal Ali Khan also behind.
- Coverage differed on VIP’s scale of contest, with one report saying it fought 18 seats and another putting the number at 15.
- VIP’s core support lies among Nishad, Noniya, Bind and Beldar communities, a bloc seen as influential in Bihar’s Extremely Backward Castes.