RJD accuses Nitish Kumar of pressurising officials to delay counting, alleges foul play

As race between NDA and Mahagathbandhan gets narrower by minute in Bihar Assembly Elections' results, RJD has accused incumbent CM Nitish Kumar of foul play. RJD has alleged that CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi are pressurising District Magistrates and Returning Officers to delay results of close contests. party has also claimed that its winners are t being provided with certificates eir. As per Election Commission, RJD has won 14 seats and is leading in 62 seats. 

"Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi and ors are sitting in Chief Minister's Residential Office and pressurising all District Magistrates to somehow stop Mahagathbandhan at somewhere 105-110 seats. We will t allow m to loot people's mandate under any circumstance," RJD tweeted in Hindi. 

Earlier in day, RJP MP Maj Jha made a similar allegation as he accused CM Nitish Kumar of calling returning officers to slow down counting of votes. Speaking to ANI, Jha confidently asserted that RJD would form government in Bihar. As per latest ECI trends, Mahagthbandhan is leading on 114 seats while NDA leads on 122 seats. 

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RJD in talks with JDU

As per sources, RJD is awaiting a crisis in NDA, following which it is likely to extend an olive branch to JDU in an attempt to stake claim to form government. In 2015 state polls, Mahagathbandhan comprising RJD, JD(U) and Congress won a whopping majority with 178 seats under leadership of Nitish Kumar. However, he stepped down as CM on July 26, 2017, citing irreconcilable differences with RJD over corruption allegations against Tejashwi Yadav and joined hands with its former ally BJP.

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As per latest ECI trends, Congress is leading in 17 seats and has won 3 whereas JDU has won 7 seats and is leading in 36. On or hand, Hindustani Awam Morcha has won only one seat and is leading in 2 seats. ECI has also reported that around 3.40 crores have been counted till 8 PM on Tuesday. 

Counting of votes polled in Bihar Assembly elections began at 8 am on Tuesday at 55 counting centres across 38 districts of state. voting across 243-assembly constituencies in Bihar was held in three phases on October 28, vember 3, and vember 7 to decide fate of 3,755 candidates. Over 7,29,27,396 electors were eligible to vote in Bihar polls and voter turut was at 57.05 per cent, which was 0.39 per cent higher compared to 56.66 per cent in 2015 elections. 

READ | Bihar Election Results: RJD's Maj Jha Says 'will Form Next Govt' As NDA Leads In Trends

Mahagatbandhan comprising RJD, Congress, CPI(M-L), CPI, and CPM is perceived as principal challenger to ruling NDA alliance consisting of BJP, JD(U), VIP, and HAM(S). Some of or alliances in fray include 'Progressive Democratic Alliance' who has projected Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav as CM face and 'United Democratic Secular Alliance' with former Upendra Kushwaha as CM candidate.

READ | Bihar Election Results: RJD Remains Confident Of Victory, Tells CM 'don't Slow Count'