India, Nov. 14 -- Counting of votes for the 243-member Bihar assembly, after the two-phase voting on November 6 and 11, is scheduled to begin at 8am on Friday, November 14. The assembly has 243 seats and the majority mark is 122.

Here are the key preparations, controversies, and predictions shaping the atmosphere on the counting morning:

Centre's ruling NDA will hope to continue in power in Bihar too, currently led by CM Nitish Kumar, who switched to the Mahagathbandhan twice in between for brief periods. The veteran socialist leader's record of governance and welfare schemes remained a key issue in the election. PM Narendra Modi's image and campaigning were also a major part of the NDA's strategy.

A much younger Tejashwi Yadav, son of...