Patna: The Grand Alliance today routed the BJP-led NDA in Bihar to score a landslide two-thirds majority in the Assembly giving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a third term in office in a battle in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi staked his all.
Making a spectacular comeback after the severe drubbing in the last year's Lok Sabha polls at the hands of Modi, the newly-formed JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance secured 178 seats in the 243-member House. RJD emerged the leader of the pack with 80 seats while JD(U) bagged 71.
Both the parties had contested 101 seats each. Congress also made impressive gains winning 27 seats out of 41.
It had won only 4 last time. The BJP-led NDA, for which Modi mounted an aggressive campaign addressing more than 30 rallies, bagged 58 seats. BJP on its own got 53 seats out of 157 it contested while its allies also put up a poor show.
LJP, led by Ram Vilas Paswan, and RLSP of Upendra Kushwaha got two seats each.
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM won only one of the two seats he contested and lost in all the 19 others it fought in.
In the last assembly polls which JDU and BJP fought together, the two parties had got 115 and 91 seats respectively.
The RJD and Congress, which had fought on their own, bagged 22 and 04 seats respectively.
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.
After leading his party to a stunning majority in the Lok Sabha polls in May last year, Modi also ensured success for the party in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand, where the party formed government on its own.
In Jammu and Kashmir, BJP became part of the coalition government with PDP in March.
After the Modi juggernaut decimated Congress, RJD and JDU in Bihar bagging 31 of 40 Lok Sabha seats, the three rival parties came together in the assembly bye polls that happened months later.
They won six out of the 10 seats that gave them the necessary boost to join forces and repeat the success on a massive scale.
CPI(ML-L), which contested on its own, got two seats while Independents were successful in four seats.
AIMIM of Assadudin Owaisi and Janadhikar Party of Lok Sabha member Pappu Yadav drew a blank. Independents got 4.
Appearing together before the media after the results, Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad said the poll verdict would have an impact on national politics as it shows that there is yearning for a “good and strong alternative” and a “powerful opposition” to BJP.
Describing the election as a “milestone”, Kumar said the result was for “harmony” and against “intolerance”. He said efforts at polarisation have failed.
Lalu, while attacking Modi, said the alliance will launch a “strong nationwide movement” against BJP as part of “march towards Delhi” and will begin with a rally within 10 days in the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi.
“The priority for the new government will progress with justice and inclusive growth,” Kumar said, adding the promises of the common programme of the alliance will be honoured.
He said there will be “no ill will” against anybody and the government will work with the opposition with a positive approach for the development of the state.
Kumar said the Prime Minister had called him up to congratulate him and hoped that the Centre would extend all cooperation to his government.
He also expressed hope that the package announced by the Prime Minister for Bihar before the elections would be implemented.
“We need central assistance.” In the overall analysis, the grand alliance got 7.8 per cent more votes over the rival alliance that translated into a difference of a whopping 120 seats for the winner.
The victorious combine registered an overall 41.9 per cent with RJD getting 18.4 per cent, JD (U) 16.8 per cent and Congress 6.7 per cent.
The BJP secured 24.4 per cent, the highest by a single party, but it did not translate enough into seats it would have liked.
The BJP-led alliance including its allies LJP (4.8 per cent), RLSP (2.6 per cent) and HAM (2.3 per cent) got an 34.1 per cent votes.
With NDA losing badly, rumblings began in the NDA, including within BJP. Two MPs from the state R K Singh and Shatrughan Sinha called for “introspection” and analysis of these results.
NDA ally Shiv Sena also rubbed salt into the wounds of BJP, with its leader Sanjay Raut saying the poll result “denotes decline of a leader” in an apparent reference to Modi and asserted that it will bring in a “new” turn in the country's politics.
(PTI)
Major highlights:
* There will be long term implications of Bihar result on the country: Lalu Prasad Yadav
* Nitish ji ko badhaayi diye hain (PM), achhi baat hai, dena hi chahiye, lekin dil se diye hain ki nhi: Lalu Yadav
* There is a growing desire in the country for a strong opposition, it is also the requirement of a functioning democracy: Nitish Kumar
Also Read: Bihar polls: Final tally and vote percentage
* Mulayam Singh ji ki hum sab log izzat karte hain, hum logon ki taraf se unke prati samman mein na koi kami thi, na hai aur na rahegi: Nitish
* This election will be seen as a milestone among elections: Nitish Kumar
* The mandate given by people of Bihar has reflected the mood across the nation: Nitish Kumar
* Bihar's people have gauged the mood of the nation, their verdict has reflected what the country thinks: Nitish Kumar
* Kaam kuch nahi, keval bhaashan (No work only speeches): Lalu Prasad takes pot-shots at PM Modi
Also Read: Decoding vote share: How Bihar voted for different parties
* The BJP had its eyes on Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. It wanted to move eastwards. Bihar stopped them in tracks: Lalu Yadav.
* Efforts were made to communalize the society, but people of Bihar defeated that attempt: Lalu Prasad Yadav
* There will be long term implications of Bihar result on the country: Lalu Yadav
* BJP koi party nahi, woh ek mukhauta hai: Lalu Prasad Yadav
* The BJP had its eyes on Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. It wanted to move eastwards. Bihar stopped them in tracks: Laloo Yadav
* Narendra Modi ji, Pradhanmantri naam ke hain, wo sangh ke prachaarak hain: Lalu Yadav
* Yahan (Bihar) koi jhanjhat nhi hai, asli jhanjhat hum karne wale hain Delhi ki gaddi par: Lalu Yadav
Also Read: 10 ways how Prashant Kishor architected Nitish Kumar's Bihar win
* Yahan (Bihar) koi jhanjhat nhi hai, asli jhanjhat hum karne wale hain Delhi ki gaddi par: Lalu Yadav
* People have given us a decisive mandate, will introspect in areas where we lost seats with a small margin: Nitish Kumar
* I express my gratitude towards people of Bihar, will try our best to match up with their expectations: Nitish Kumar
* People across nation definitely wish for an effective opposition,we will respect our opposition: Nitish
* We respect our Opposition in Bihar, want to work in consensus with everyone to develop Bihar: Nitish
* We don't hold grudges against anyone, whatever hppnd during #BiharElections won't affect our functioning, will work with positivity: Nitish Kumar
* Chunaav ke dauraan chaahe jo kuch bhi hua ho, hum apne kaam mein uss se prabhaavit nhi honge, hum positivity ke saath kaam karenge: Nitish Kumar
* Hum logon ke mann mein koi, Bihar ke sandarbh mein, kisi bhi prakar ka, kisi ke prati koi durbhavana nhi rahegi: Nitish Kumar
* This is a huge victory which suggests people of Bihar have aspirations, we will match up with their expectations: Nitish Kumar
* Mahagathbandhan has worked in unity and will continue to do so for the development of Bihar: Nitish Kumar
* Congratulate people of Bihar, this is their victory, this is victory of Bihar's 'Swabhimaan': Nitish Kumar
* Keeping BJP Govt in Delhi equal to dividing nation into pieces,will initiate public movement against them as I committed earlier: Lalu Yadav
* In Nitish Kumarji's leadership Bihar will move on a development path: Lalu Prasad Yadav
* We both express our gratitude to people of Bihar for giving us such a great victory: Lalu Yadav
* Mahagathbandhan ko great victory dia hai Bihar ki janata ne, iske liye hum dono bhai aabhaar vyakt karte hain: Lalu Yadav
* Nitish Kumar-Lalu Yadav greet each other after victory
* Nitish Kumar waves at his supporters outside his residence in Patna
* Nitish Kumar thank supporters gathered outside his residence
* We respect the mandate given by people, development will be our top priority: Tejashwi Yadav
* Package for Bihar is a commitment given by the PM which will be fulfilled by the Centre at all cost: Rajnath Singh
* We respect the mandate given by the people of Bihar: Rajnath Singh
* I congratulate Lalu ji's vision and Nitish ji's hardwork: Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat
* I congratulate Nitish Kumarji, Lalu Prasadji & Bihar for the grand success. Our support is with you for the devlopment of Bihar: Giriraj Singh
* Rejection of Narendra Modi and his arrogance, great victory for people of Bihar: Anand Sharma, Congress
* Tej Pratap Yadav wins from Mahua
* These are internal discussions, we can't talk about these issues publicly: Rahul Gandhi on whether Congress will be part of Bihar govt
* I want Mr Modi to tone down his arrogance, it will be good for him and for the nation as well: Rahul Gandhi
* This is a defeat of hatred,arrogance and anger: Rahul Gandhi
* Want to congratulate all the workers and leaders of Mahagatbandhan: Rahul Gandhi
* We all congratulate Nitish ji and Lalu ji. We expect them to do development work for Bihar: Ravi Shankar Prasad
* We accept and respect the mandate of the people: Ravi Shankar Prasad
* In Bihar, BJP has come third, in West Bengal they will come fourth: Derek O Brien, TMC
* BJP loses,India wins,BJP loses,India is saved: Derek O Brien, TMC
* Congratulations to Nitishji and Laluji on their historical victory: Akhilesh Yadav
* Wherever there will be a non-Congress face, Mr.Modi and BJP will lose from there: Asaduddin Owaisi
* The larger picture is that it is a personal defeat of Mr.Modi: Asaduddin Owaisi
* Rajnath Singh speaks to Nitish Kumar over phone and congratulated him on his party's victory in Bihar assembly elections
* Amit Shah congratulates Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav
* Congratulations to the secular forces standing together for the change needed in the country. This will give hope n uplift the sentiment in the country. My Best wishes: Robert Vadra
* Bihar BJP leader Sushil Modi concedes defeat, says party bows before people's mandate and congratulates Lalu and Nitish on their victory
* This is a victory of unity over divisiveness. Humility over arrogance. Love over hate. A victory of the people of Bihar: Rahul Gandhi
* Congratulations to the people of Bihar, to Nitishji,to Laluji,to the Congress leaders &karyakartas & the Mahagathbandhan on this victory: Rahul Gandhi
* This is a victory of unity over divisiveness. Humility over arrogance. Love over hate. A victory of the people of Bihar: Rahul Gandhi
* Thank you Arvind Ji: Nitish Kumar
* It is the victory of democracy and the people of Bihar. I salute them: Shatrughan Sinha
* Arvind Kejriwal congrats Nitish Kumar
* It appears that the issue of Bihari vs Bahari (and Bihari Babu's absence) has been settled once and for all: Shatrughan Sinha
* Wishing great luck to our victorious friends & appealing for introspection to our ppl.The writing was always on the wall: Shatrughan Sinha
* Thank you Mamataji: Nitish Kumar
* There should be an analysis on this and responsibility needs to be fixed: BJP's RK Singh
* I congratulate Nitish ji, Lalu ji, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for this victory: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
* This election was projected as a political war between Modi ji and Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar has won in this battle: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
* We congratulate Nitish Kumar on his win, we will introspect on our defeat: P Murlidhar Rao, BJP
* RK Singh and Shatrughan Sinha have betrayed us, action should be taken against them: BJP general secretary P Murlidhar Rao
* PM Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar
* Trends disappointing for us. If we lose, will have to find out the reason for their victory more than the reason of our defeat: Manoj Tiwari
* Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan reach BJP President Amit Shah's residence.
* Congratulations Nitishji, Laluji & your full team. And all my Bihar brothers & sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance: Mamata Banerjee
* Every election is a learning curve for all political parties, will accept whatever the final result is: BJP's Naqvi
* Well done Bihar Congratulations to leaders&workers of Congress,RJD & JDU.They have worked hard to defeat the false claims of NDA: Ahmed Patel
* Celebration outside CM Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna
* This is a big win for Nitish Kumar, he has emerged as a political hero: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena
* We congratulate Nitish Kumar, this result will be turning point in country's political future: Sanjay Raut
* When Congress loses, its Soniaji's responsibility, similarly BJP must accept that Bihar result is Modiji's responsibility: Sanjay Raut
* I congratulate the people of India and Bihar: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress
* We will respect whatever is the mandate of the people, it is a close finish: Ram Madhav
* Celebrations outside Congress Office in Delhi after trends show Mahagatbandhan leading
* Celebration outside RJD Office in Patna
* BJP's Nand Kishore Yadav is trailing by over 2000 votes from Patna Sahib constituency
* All Owaisi-led AIMIM candidates are trailing
* We had already predicted this. It is a defeat for BJP and Modi: Pawan Verma, JD(U)
* Celebration in Patna after trends now show Mahagathbandhan leading
* This is nothing, we will cross 140 seats: Misa Bharti, RJD
* Must wait for final results, we believe things will be in our favor at the end: Sudhanshu Trivedi,BJP
* JD(U)+ takes lead in 122 seats (JD-U - 55, RJD- 56, Congress- 11)
* Congress' Purnmasi Ram trails in Ramnagar (SC) seat
* Tejashwi and Tej Pratap are trailing from Raghopur and Mahua, respectively
* I congratulate people of Bihar, I think we will get close to 150 seats: Sharad Yadav
* NDA will win. We will form government: Giriraj Singh
* Vijay Prakash of RJD leads in Jamui
* Celebration outside RJD office in Patna
* Amit Shah calls BJP Parliamentary board meeting at 12 noon tomorrow
* BJP's Rameshwar Prasad leads in Nokha
* BJP's Nitish Mishra leads in Jhanjharpur
* BJP+ leads in 94 seats (BJP- 75, LJP- 6, RLSP- 3, HAM- 10)
* JD(U) + leads in 93 seats (JD-U - 38, RJD- 44, Congress- 11)
* RJD's Ram Chandra Purve leads in Parihar
* JD(U) candidate Bijendra Prasad Yadav leads in Supaul
* JD(U)'s Shyam Rajak leads in Phulwari Sharif
* BJP's Prem Kumar leads in Gaya Town
* Jitan Ram ManManjhi's son Santosh Suman leads in Kutumba
* Jitan Ram Manjhi trailing in Makhdumpur seat by 278 votes after 1st round of counting
* BJP+ leads in 76 seats (BJP- 58, LJP- 6, RLSP- 3, HAM- 9)
* JD(U)+ leads in 69 seats (JD-U - 33, RJD- 27, Congress- 9)
* RJD's Tejaswi Yadav trails in Raghopur
* I congratulate the people of Bihar for voting for development. The credit goes to (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's and (BJP president) Amit Shah's leadership: Party spokesman Kailash Vijayvargiya
* We will win surely with very conclusive majority. People of Bihar need change: BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad
* Trends indicate we are winning, number of factors behind our good showing: BJP's Ram Madhav
* Jitan Ram Manjhi leads from both seats - Makhdumpur and Imamganj
* JD(U) candidate Uday Narayan Choudhary trails in Imamganj
* RJD's Muslim face Abdul Bari Siddiqui leads in Ali Nagar
* BJP orders 100 kg of laddoos and firecrackers
* Jitan Ram Manjhi leads in Imamganj
* Lalu's son Tej Pratap Yadav leading in Mahua
* BJP's Asha Devi leads in Jiradei
* BJP candidate Ram Lakhan Singh leads in Teghra
* HAM state president Shakuni Choudhary leads in Tarapur
* Congress leader Amita Bhushan leads in Begusarai
* BJP+ leads on 56 seats (BJP- 40, LJP- 7, HAM- 7, RLSP- 2)
* JD(U)+ leads on 40 seats (JD-U- 21, RJD- 16, Congress- 3)
* Celebration outside BJP office in Patna
* Vijay Kumar Vimal of the BJP leads in Madhepura
* JD(U) candidate Rajiv Ranjan leads in Digha
* Naresh Ram (BSP) leads in Ramnagar
* BJP+ leads on 46 seats (BJP- 40, LJP- 2, RLSP- 2, HAM(S)- 2)
* BJP's Arijit Shashwat leads in Bhagalpur
* Wishing all of our people success as the final counting ensues and the long awaited results start to unfold. Jai Bihar: Shatrughan Sinha
* Hindustani Awam Morcha candidate Lovely Anand leading from Sheohar
* BJP's Nand Kishore Yadav leads in Patna Sahib
* BJP's Prem Kumar leading in Gaya
* JD(U)'s Shyam Rajak leads in Phulwari Sharif
* BJP's Nitin Naveen leads in Bankipur
* Wrong to say EC did not act on hate speeches and poll violations, suitable and swift action was taken: Nasim Zaidi
* We are very satisfied with the outcome of Bihar elections,we had lot of challenges: Nasim Zaidi,CEC
* Ram Vilas Paswan's brother Pashupati Kumar Paras leads in Alauli
* Lalu's son Tejaswi Yadav leads in Raghopur
* Jitan Ram Manjhi leads in Makhdumpur
* Treans: BJP+ ahead on 39 seats; Grnad Alliance leading on 21 seats
* BJP's Rajendra Singh trails from Dinara in Rohtas district
* Supporters bring sweets to Lalu Prasad Yadav's residence in Patna #BiharResults
* Trends: BJP+ ahead in 12 seats, Grand Alliance leads in 6 seat
* Counting begins
* I am sure for the benefit of Bihar, benefit of the nation, development would be victorious because Bihar has to march ahead: Sambit Patra
* Big day, fight between two 'D's today- Development & second D-desperation for existence: Sambit Patra, BJP
* I have no wish as such but if a situation arises where I am asked to be the CM,then I will accept it and not back off: Jitan Ram Manjhi
* Surprised that Lalu ji only said 190 seats and not 210 or more.In reality Mahagatbandhan has failed: Jitan Ram Manjhi
* We have done enough to penetrate into different segments of society: Nitish Kumar
* Laluji has played a key role in Bihar politics, good or bad that is debatable: Chirag Paswan of LJP
* Good morning, we are winning: Lalu Prasad Yadav before counting begins
While Kumar is not in the fray, among the prominent faces in the battle are Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has fought from two seats, and two sons of RJD chief Lalu Prasad have also made their electoral debut.
The five-phased elections, which started on October 12 and ended on November 5, saw the lead campaigners from both the sides trading bitter accusations that at times turned personal.
Also Read: India TV-CVoter exit poll projects clear win for Nitish-led grand alliance in Bihar
Over a dozen FIRs were lodged by the poll authorities in Bihar against the top leaders of the two alliances relating to their alleged hate speeches. The accused included BJP chief Amit Shah, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav.
Modi had led the NDA charge by holding over 30 rallies while Shah held 85-odd public meetings.
A win for the saffron alliance will help BJP shake off the opposition attack on it over the "climate of intolerance" and embolden it to push its agenda ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.
However, a loss for it will reinvigorate the opposition ranks and help Kumar acquire a key role in national politics after he suffered a big setback in the Lok Sabha polls. A defeat for the grand alliance will deliver a body blow to the politics of Kumar and Prasad from which it may take a long time for them to recover.
As much as 56.80%, the highest in assembly election in the state's history, of the 6.68 crore voters have exercised their franchise.
Votes are locked in 62,780 EVMs which would be counted tomorrow. A total of 14,580 officials have been put on duty for the counting process in Patna and other districts.
Fate of 3450 candidates, including 272 women, would be disclosed in the counting tomorrow.
With hours left for the suspense to be lifted, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar remained in his 7 Circular road residence throughout the day.
"There is no engagement of the CM besides interacting with some people in his residence," an official at his residence said.
RJD President Lalu Prasad is also in his residence and interacting with some party workers and leaders arriving to him.
BJP leaders are also in their houses.
"Everybody is in buoyant mood as we are sure a BJP-led NDA government would be formed after results tomorrow," state BJP Vice President Sanjay Mayukh said.
Results at Patna Sahib, Bankipore and Kumhrar are also important to know the impact of the absence of local MP Shatrughan Sinha from the campaign.
In the outgoing assembly, the JD(U) and BJP had contested elections together and won a massive majority. The JD(U) had won 115 seats and BJP 91. The RJD had won 22 and Congress 4 when they contested on their own.
But, the scenario has changed altogether this time with JD(U) and BJP parting company and heading rival coalitions.
JD(U) of Nitish Kumar teamed up with RJD and Congress in the grand secular alliance. BJP led a coalition with LJP, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha.
From Secular alliance camp, JD(U) and RJD contested on 101 seats each while Congress fielded candidates on rest 41.
In the NDA, BJP fought on 158 seats and gave 41 to LJP, 23 to RLSP and 21 to HAM.
For BJP, the challenge is to maintain its landslide victory in general elections in which it had won 22 seats out a total of 40 in Bihar. Its allies LJP had won 6 and RLSP 3.
RJD and JDU had fought separately and won four and two seats respectively. Congress, which contested in alliance with RJD, had also won two seats while NCP one.
A loose grouping of Samajwadi Party, Janadhikar Morcha of Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav and two others was counted as a challenge particularly to grand secular alliance but not much impact was visible except in Madhepura and Kosi area in the last phase.
The six Left parties came together to form a separate Front but their chance is rated very low.
AIMIM of Hyderabad MP Asauddin Owaisi fielded six candidates in Muslims dominated Seemanchal area to test the poll water in Bihar.
Due to sincere efforts of the Election Commission and security personnel, the five-phase elections in Bihar was violence-free.
Election Commission data shows that it was for the first time in Bihar that there was no report of any death during the poll.
In 2010 Assembly elections, six persons were killed while in 2014 Parliamentary polls in the state, five persons had lost lives.
A total of Rs 19,90,08,055 of unaccounted cash was seized during five-phase poll. Besides, 70,40,290 Nepali currencies and 39,00,000 other foreign currencies were seized.
In 2010 poll cash seizure in Bihar poll was Rs 35.54 lakh and in 2014 Lok Sabha election it was Rs 6,02,21,243.
EC data shows 6,87,981 litres of illicit liquor valued at Rs 12.03 crore was seized in the current election. In 2010 state poll 54 bottle of foreign liquor and 3290 bottles and pouches of country liquor was seized in the state.
