"Public contact, not rallies": Digvijaya Singh asks Cong to pay attention at booth level amid dismal performance in Bihar

Sharing an X post, Digvijaya Singh also alleged electoral fraud, claiming that 62 lakh votes were cut, 20 lakh votes were added, out of which 5 lakh votes were cast without filling the enumeration form during the SIR exercise.

He wrote, "What I suspected has come true. 62 lakh votes were cut, 20 lakh votes were added, out of which 5 lakh votes were cast without filling the SIR form. Most of the votes cut were from the poor, Dalits, and minority classes. On top of that, there remains suspicion over the EVM."

"@INCIndia needs to pay special attention to its organisation. Today's election is about intensive public contact at the polling booth, not rallies and public meetings. Congratulations and best wishes to the victorious candidates," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, after the exit polls showed a decisive victory for the NDA, Digvijaya Singh had alleged manipulation of the voter list and the EVMs.

"When I visited there, it was an equal fight. If the NDA wins by more than 140 seats, it will be due to a manipulated voter list and a manipulated EVM," he had said in a press conference.

According to the trends at 1:20 pm, Congress is reduced to just five seats with a dismal conversion rate of 8.3 per cent.

Mahagathbandhan is training behind, gaining a lead on just 39 seats, with RJD leading on 29 seats.

Meanwhile, the ruling NDA is leading on 198 seats, with the BJP as the single largest party, winning 90 seats as of the ECI data at 1:20 pm. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) is leading on 81, with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leading on 21 seats.

Earlier today, Congress leader Pawan Khera called the Bihar Assembly elections a direct contest between Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the people of Bihar.

Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Khera took a jibe at CEC Kumar, saying he has an upper hand over the public in Bihar.

He said, "These are just early trends, we're waiting a bit. The initial trends certainly suggest that Gyanesh Kumar is gaining an upper hand over the people of Bihar. I can't underestimate the people of Bihar. They have shown courage. They showed it despite the SIR and vote theft. The contest is directly between the Election Commission of India and the people of Bihar, and let's see who wins."

Counting of votes for all 243 constituencies began at 8 am amid tight security. Officials began tallying postal ballots, with the counting of EVM votes beginning at 8:30 am. (ANI)