Patna: In a twist of irony that has sparked widespread online buzz, former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha’s sarcastic prediction of an NDA sweep in the Bihar Assembly elections has eerily come true, even as he doubles down on allegations of electoral manipulation.
Days before the results, Sinha had mocked exit polls on X, declaring, “All exit polls for Bihar are wrong. My survey shows NDA winning at least 200 seats and Mahagathbandhan facing a wipeout. If my prediction proves entirely false on November 14, I take no responsibility.” With NDA surging past the 200-mark in the 243-seat House, netizens are hailing it as a case of “Saraswati on his tongue”— a divine irony turning jest into prophecy.
However, Sinha, a prominent critic of the BJP, quickly shifted his focus to outrage. In fresh X posts, he urged Opposition parties to boycott polls “as long as Gyanesh Kumar remains Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission stays compromised.” In another, he alleged, “Bihar Assembly election results have been carefully engineered.”
The barbs contrast sharply with NDA leaders’ jubilation. Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the verdict as “every Bihari’s victory”, crediting it to faith in performance politics and a developed Bihar. He emphasised voter list purification and vowed the NDA would honour the mandate with even greater dedication under Prime Minister Modi, focusing on development, women’s safety, good governance, and welfare.
As celebrations erupt in Patna, Sinha’s words underscore deepening Opposition distrust in India’s electoral machinery, even amid the NDA’s triumphant roar.