The JD(U)-led grand alliance convincingly defeated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA in the Bihar elections on Sunday, sending out a clear message that the language of development must be clean and not interspersed with metaphors of divisiveness.
BJP spokesman GVL Narsimha Rao denied the loss was a personal blow for Modi, saying the odds were stacked against their party after regional rivals joined forces.
As the contest tightened in recent weeks, the campaign shifted to bitter issues along religious and caste lines which have traditionally dominated Bihar.
Modi was up against the unlikely alliance of Nitish Kumar and his predecessor Lalu Prasad Yadav this time.
In the last assembly polls in 2010, the JDU had won 115 seats while BJP won in 91 when both parties had an alliance. RJD had got 24 and Congress 5, contesting separately.
The premier's defeat was also a setback to his plans to push major economic reforms through Parliament where the BJP lacks a majority in the Upper House.
Modi turned the Bihar poll into a key test of his popularity, addressing some 30 campaign rallies and promising voters billions for development.
"Had a telephone conversation with Shri @NitishKumar & congratulated him on the victory," Modi said on Twitter of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceded defeat in the Bihar elections, in a major blow for the man who fronted a no-holds barred campaign.
On the rival side, the NDA alliance of the BJP, the Lok Janshakti Party, the RLSP and the HAM is looking to get near 70 seats.
RJD is emerging as the senior-most partner in this mahagathbandhan where numbers are concerned.
It is now evident that ally RJD, headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav, has more than helped the grand alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress get these numbers.
A win for the grand alliance will strengthen Nitish politically and he might well emerge as an anti-BJP force at the national level.
The alliance, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is all set to get two-thirds majority in the 243-member Assembly.
Jubilant scenes in Bihar as Grand Alliance trumps BJP