Grand Alliance trumps BJP in landmark verdict in Bihar

Nitish Kumar is all set to return as Chief Minister of Bihar after the Grand Alliance (JDU-RJD as well as the Congress) pulled away to an early lead in the Bihar Assembly elections, results of which were announced Sunday morning. Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD combine, contesting 101 seats each scored an impressive lead and victories over the BJP led alliance and did particularly well in the villages as well. By noon it was clear that Lalu’s RJD was emerging as the single largest party in Bihar.

The five phase poll in Bihar saw the highest voter turn out of over 56%. Ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed at least 30 rallies in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar was unsparing of his criticism of the BJP. Kumar had been an ally of the BJP until 2013. When Modi was announced as the prime ministerial candidate, Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance, and Modi too put up a spirited fight ahead of the Bihar elections.

However, on Sunday, as early trends showed a clear advantage for the Grand Alliance, Narendra Modi congratulated Kumar on the victory. BJP’s strongman Amit Shah likewise congratulated the winners.

Once bitter rivals, both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar buried their differences after the 2014 landslide victory of BJP in the Parliamentary elections. While it has revived Lalu’s career, two of his sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap have done well as well.