PATNA, Nov. 13 -- Buoyed by the exit polls predictions, chief minister Nitish Kumar embarked on a pilgrimage to religious places in state capital Patna while some of the candidates have already started preparations for the victory bash. In Patna, the BJP workers have come together to prepare laddoos after several exit polls predicted the NDA's win in the polls. They say that around 501 kilograms of laddoos are being prepared ahead of the counting day. Chief minister Kumar, the day after voting concluded for both phases of the Bihar Assembly elections, first offered prayers at the Mahavir Temple in Patna. He then visited a Gurudwara and prayed, then visited a Mazar (shrine) and offered Chaadar. Nitish Kumar's religious tour after voting ends, while conveying a message of religious harmony, is also being seen as a political strategy. He was accompanied by ministers Ashok Choudhary and Vijay Choudhary. "The Chief Minister's visit further strengthens his image as a symbol of religious tolerance and social harmony. Visiting temples ranging from the Mahavir Temple to gurudwaras and shrines, he signaled that both development and social unity are equally essential in Bihar's politics," said Professor Gyananedra Yadav, professor of Sociology at College of Commerce in Patna. When reporters asked the Chief Minister about the exit polls, Kumar smiled and left in his car without answering. This smile is being interpreted in political circles as a sign that Kumar is confident of returning to power. "The Chief Minister visited temples of various religions and expressed gratitude for the peaceful and uncontested elections in both phases. Most importantly, voter turnout figures indicate that this time, people from all walks of life, including women, participated enthusiastically in the elections. The CM prayed for the election results to be in the interest of Bihar's development and peace," said Bihar's parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. Chowdhary took a dig at the opposition."Initially they attempted to question the entire electoral process through false and baseless allegations such as SIR and vote theft, with the completion of the SIR and the publication of the new voter list, all their allegations were dispelled, and today, they too participated in the electoral process with ease. ," he said. A BJP worker Krishna Kumar Singh, said, "NDA is winning Bihar elections with a thumping majority, exit polls have also shown. Before that, we had ordered the preparation of 501 kg ladoos. We will distribute it among people who have voted for us to remain in power. The people of Bihar have made up their mind - 2025, fir se NDA aur Nitish." At the residence of Janata Dal (United) candidate Anant Kumar Singh, where workers have begun setting up tents, arranging chairs, and decorating the premises in anticipation of the counting results. Party members said that preparations are underway to welcome supporters and well-wishers who are expected to gather on the day of the results. NDA vs INDIA bloc The NDA hopes to continue to helm the state, while the RJD and Congress are hoping to break JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar's two-decade-run as Bihar chief minister. The RJD in alliance with the JD(U) won the 2015 Bihar elections, the alliance broke soon after. Now, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, supported by the Congress, is fighting to break the RJD's electoral jinx. The key candidates include Bijendra Prasad Yadav, a veteran JD(U) leader and the most senior member of the state cabinet, who seeks to retain his Supaul seat for a record eighth term. JD(U)'s dominance in the 2005 and 2010 elections marked its peak, winning 88 and 115 seats respectively. However, the 2015 election saw its decline to 71 seats despite being part of a victorious alliance. By 2020, JD(U)'s strength fell further to 43 seats, while BJP's tally rose to 74. The shift established BJP as the stronger partner within the NDA, reducing JD(U)'s influence and pushing it to the third position in the 2020 polls. For the 2025 elections, both parties are contesting an equal number of seats, signalling a recalibration of power within the alliance. Since 2000, the RJD has remained a major player in Bihar politics, often leading in vote share among key parties. In 1995 and 2000, it secured around 28%, which gradually declined to 18.35% in 2015. Under Tejashwi Yadav's leadership, the party regained some ground in 2020 with a 23.11% vote share, continuing to appeal to its traditional voter base. Bihar recorded its highest voter turnout of 62.6% in the 2000 assembly elections. However, turnout dropped below 50% during the two elections held in 2005 amid political instability. The participation rate rose again in subsequent polls, touching 57.1% in 2020. Another significant trend has been the growing participation of women voters, which has seen a steady increase over the last two elections, reflecting gradual social and political shifts in the State....