Candidates of different political parties were on tenterhooks on Saturday, with barely hours left for declaration of the election results.

In the tension-filled last few hours before the seals of electronic voting machines (EVM) machines were broken, the leaders took last-minute measures to ensure that their counting agents are present at the counting centres when their political fate is decided. But they also spared some time for their families after hectic weeks of electioneering.

Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav, the leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, is contesting from the Patna Sahib constituency, which is named after the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, tried to balance his public and personal lives.

"We are political people, so we have been meeting various groups affiliated to our party. For me, the elections have not ended yet. But I made it a point to have breakfast and lunch with my son and daughter-in-law," he said.

Santosh Mehta, the RJD candidate from Patna Sahib, who had given a tough fight to Nand Kishore, said he spent the entire day at home and met counting agents to chalk out Sunday's plans.

"I had a plain lunch of rice, pulses, vegetables and papad with the counting agents and prepared for the big day tomorrow (Sunday)," added Santosh.

In neighbouring Bankipore constituency in the heart of the state capital, Congress candidate Kumar Ashish (34) took time out to relax with his parents and two brothers at his Mahesh Nagar residence. "It was an important thing to do. I had not been giving time to them of late and tried to make up for it," he said.

Ashish's rival Nitin Navin, the BJP candidate, proclaimed to be a foodie.

He spent the day with his mother, wife and aunt eating khichdi with various chicken and fish preparations. "I just said my daily prayers and relaxed with my family members, waiting for a new dawn in the state on the counting day," Nitin said.

Nearby, JDU candidate Rajiv Ranjan said his wife, Ragini, who was also taking part in last-minute preparations for the vote counting and meeting party supporters and workers.

Ragini said she opted for Diwali shopping and praying to the Mother goddess to help Rajiv sail through the polls and gets a seat in the Assembly. "After all, we have worked so hard."

Arun Sinha, the BJP contestant, spent the day with party supporters and counting agents instead of family.

He said he was sure to win the Kumhrar seat from where he fought and would celebrate with family members after the results are declared.

"I will go to the Kali and Mahavir temples early tomorrow (Sunday) morning before paying attention to the counting of votes," Arun added.

The BJP candidate's nearest rival, Aquil Haider of Congress also stayed busy ensuring that his counting agents get all requisite passes to enter the counting zone.

Lalu's Varanasi rally

A day before Assembly votes are counted, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said he would hold a victory rally in Varanasi, the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We are forming the government with 190 seats and my first visit after wining would be Varanasi. I'll go there with lalten (lantern, the RJD's symbol) and visit the village Modi adopted. I want to see if he has developed Varanasi like Kyoto. I also want to see the condition of the Ganga," Lalu told reporters at the party office.