NEW DELHI: Leaders across party lines in Bihar went into overdrive on Thursday as the state prepared for the vote counting of the high-stakes assembly election on Friday that will decide whether chief minister Nitish Kumar secures a record fifth term in office. The Election Commission (EC) said elaborate arrangements have been made at 46 counting centres across 38 districts. Counting will start at 8 am on Friday, with postal ballots tallied first, followed by EVM votes from 8.30 am. A total of 4,372 counting tables have been set up, each manned by a supervisor, assistant, and micro-observer, with over 18,000 counting agents overseeing the process. The EC has deployed 243 returning officers and 243 counting observers, ensuring two-tier security: central paramilitary forces inside

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