Nitish, Lalu decimate BJP

The Grand Alliance headed by Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad yesterday routed the BJP-led NDA in Bihar to score a landslide two-thirds majority in a battle in which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi staked his all.

The alliance, which included Congress as a junior partner, swept the poll bagging 178 assembly seats, five less than the three-fourth majority mark in the 243-member assembly.

Congress also made impressive gains winning 27 seats out of its allocated 41 seats within the Grand alliance. It had won only 4 last time.

The BJP-led NDA could manage only 58 seats, while other political parties and independents got only 7 seats.

It was the most expensive state election ever fought by the BJP, with more than 90 top party figures addressing 600 rallies over the last six weeks, party officials said.

For Modi, the Bihar results are seen as a personal setback for the second time in 10 months after BJP's disastrous show in Delhi Assembly polls where Aam Aadmi Party secured 67 of the 70 seats, leaving only three to BJP.

The loss will galvanise opposition parties, embolden rivals in his own party and diminish his standing with foreign leaders amid concern he may not win a second term as prime minister, political analysts said.

The loss in Bihar will also hamper Modi's push to pass economic reforms, because he needs to win most state elections in the next three years to gain full control of parliament.

"The result of Bihar elections will have national impact," said Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad in their first press interaction after the resounding victory.

The two leaders spoke of plans for forging a strong national alternative as an "effective opposition" to the BJP.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said efforts to polarise the society have been rejected in the "milestone" polls and its results have reflected the mood of the nation that they wanted a strong alternative at the national level.

"A very aggressive campaign was run (by BJP) and attempts were made to create a certain situation. People have rejected it, rejected attempts to polarise and expressed their view. This is a huge mandate and we expect it with all the humility," Nitish Kumar said.

Modi tweeted that he had called to congratulate Kumar over his election triumph.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said the Grand Alliance will launch a nation-wide stir against the "communal" Modi government. Lalu said he will tour the country to create a people's movement.

Surprising many pollsters, Lalu Prasad's RJD emerged as the single largest party in the state with 80 seats in its kitty.

It was a great comeback for Lalu, whose party had managed only 22 seats in the 2010 assembly elections and 4 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Putting all speculations to rest, at least for now, Lalu declared that Nitish Kumar will continue as the chief minister.

It will be the third consecutive term for Nitish Kumar.