Tejashwi Yadav Predicts ‘Inevitable Change’ as Bihar Vote Counting Advances

Patna, Nov 2025 : As the counting of votes for the Bihar Assembly elections progressed on Friday, Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) chief ministerial candidate and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav asserted that “change is inevitable” and expressed strong confidence that a new government would be formed under his leadership. “There will be change, a government will be formed,” he reiterated, reflecting the opposition coalition’s optimism as early rounds of counting unfolded.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari echoed the sentiment, declaring full confidence in the Grand Alliance’s performance. “The moment Bihar has been waiting for has arrived. We will succeed; I am fully confident,” he said. Tiwari added that the Nitish Kumar-led government had reached “the end of its time,” claiming that the electorate had voted decisively for the Mahagathbandhan. “People have voted with clarity and purpose. The new government under Tejashwi Yadav is on its way,” he asserted.

Adding to the opposition bloc’s enthusiasm, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) spokesperson Dev Jyoti also expressed belief in a sweeping mandate for the Grand Alliance. “A government is coming for the poor, for laborers, for the working class, for low-income families, and for all those who follow Ambedkar’s ideology,” he said. He predicted that by “around 10, 10:30, or 11 a.m.,” the Grand Alliance would emerge clearly ahead and be in a position to form the next government. The VIP, a constituent of the Mahagathbandhan, is expected to show strong performance in the initial rounds of counting.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has put in place an extensive and multilayered counting mechanism to ensure transparency and accuracy. Across the state, 4,372 counting tables have been set up. Each table is manned by a counting supervisor, a counting assistant and a micro-observer appointed to maintain oversight and prevent procedural lapses. A total of 243 Returning Officers and an equal number of counting supervisors are overseeing the entire process, accompanied by candidates and their authorized representatives. More than 18,000 counting agents have been deployed statewide.

The counting began at 8 a.m. with the scrutiny of postal ballots, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes at 8:30 a.m. Postal ballots must be fully counted before the final round of EVM results is declared. As per protocol, the EVM control unit is presented to the counting agents for verification of seals and serial numbers recorded in Form 17C. If any discrepancy is detected, the VVPAT slips from that polling station must be counted mandatorily.

Additionally, after the counting of five randomly selected EVMs per Assembly constituency, all corresponding VVPATs will undergo verification, ensuring an added layer of transparency and cross-validation.

Results will continue to be declared round-wise and constituency-wise by the designated election officials. The Election Commission has urged citizens, political workers, and media outlets to rely solely on its official results portal for accurate, real-time updates. It also cautioned against misinformation being circulated through unofficial or unverified sources.

As counting moves forward, the political temperature in Bihar remains high, with the Grand Alliance expressing strong belief in a sweeping mandate, while the ruling NDA closely monitors the evolving trends.