The Grand Alliance secured a landslide victory to give Nitish Kumar a third term in power after decimating the BJP-led alliance in the high-stakes Assembly elections in Bihar. As the Grand Alliance surged ahead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had put up an aggressive campaign, addressing over 30 rallies, called up Mr. Kumar to congratulate him on the poll victory.
Final tally
Grand alliance: 178
NDA: 58
Ohters: 7
BJP chief Amit Shah also congratulated Mr. Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad on the massive victory.
In what is seen as a setback to Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, the results indicate that the Grand Alliance had done better in villages. > More..
TV channels start on wrong foot
There was confusion over exit polls even as trends in counting began, with different television channels showing different coalitions as being ahead.
While NDTV showed the NDA as leading, anchor Barkha Dutt came out with poll results around 9 a.m. on Twitter. The TV-18 Network was the first to announce the election in favour of the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) by 10 am. > More...
Reactions
As the results swung in the favour of the Grand Alliance, politicians across parties had a lot to say about the developments. A look at > who said what.
To ring-fence the capital markets from any possible systemic issues and manipulations, regulator SEBI and the stock exchanges have beefed up their surveillance and risk management systems to tackle expected volatility in markets due to trouncing of BJP-led alliance in Bihar polls. >Read more..
Bihar on D-Day
“Haan bhaiyya, Bihar me bahar hain/ Mr. Kumar phir ek baar” (Yes, brother, it is spring again in Bihar/ It’s Mr. Kumar once again) read the billboards declaring victory for the grand coalition. > Read more
| Parties | Won | Leading |
|---|---|---|
| BJP + ( BJP, LJP, HAM, RLSP) | 58 | |
| JD(U)+ (JD(U), RJD, INC) | 173 | 5 |
| Others (SP, JAP, AIMIM) | 7- | 1 |
4:40 pm: The BJP is not a party. It is just a mask. Efforts were made to communalize the society, but people of Bihar defeated that attempt: Lalu Prasad
4:35 pm: There will be long term implications of Bihar result on the country: Lalu Prasad
4:33 pm: Modi was trying to fool the people of Bihar, but the people of Bihar fooled him. All the tricks the opposition tried during the campaigning, they all failed: Lalu Prasad.
4:32 pm: People have given us the mandate. If we make any mistakes, the people will not forgive us: Lalu Prasad.
4:30 pm: Nitish Kumar will be the CM, there is no confusion here: Lalu Prasad addresses the media.
4:25 pm: People across nation definitely wish for an effective opposition,we will respect our opposition: Nitish Kumar
4:23 pm: Everybody congratulated me, even the PM. Whatever happened during campaign, central govt support is important: Nitish Kumar
4:20 pm: As an alliance, we will work together. We don't have any ill feeling against our opponents: Nitish Kumar
4:18 pm: Everybody had their eye on this election because they knew how this would a nationwide impact: Nitish Kumar
4:17 pm: Mahagathbandhan has worked in unity &will continue to do so for the development of Bihar: Nitish Kumar
4:15 pm: The result shows that the people of Bihar had already made up their mind, says Nitish Kumar.
4:10 pm: Congratulate people of Bihar, this is their victory, this is victory of Bihar's 'Swabhimaan', says Nitish Kumar at a press conference.
4:00 pm: I want to congratulate people in Bihar.Its a great victory for Hindu mind which is liberal, says Kapil Sibal
3:45 pm: New posters crop up in Patna, as the Grand Alliance registers a lead in the polls.
3:32 pm: I will tour the country and create a people's movement against Modi government: Lalu Prasad.
3:27 pm: Narendra Modi congratulated Nitish Kumar. Everybody has been offering their wishes to the Grand Alliance: Lalu Prasad.
3:25 pm: Under Nitish Kumarji's leadership Bihar will move on a development path: Lalu Prasad.
3:23 pm: We both express our gratitude to people of Bihar for giving us such a great victory. We will take Bihar to new heights, says Lalu Prasad Yadav.
3:20 pm: People of Bihar have whitewashed BJP: Lalu Prasad Yadav at a press conference.
3:15 pm: As the JD(U)-led Grand Alliance ambled towards a scintillating victory, the social media threw up a whole spectrum of responses, with some equating the win as the “triumph of democracy” while few others feared that it will lead to “return of jungle raj”. > Read more
3:10 pm: Patidars to celebrate JDU victory with crackers in Naranpura, Amit Shah's assembly constituency in Ahmedabad.
3:08 pm: Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM wins in Imamganj (SC) seat by 29,408 votes
3:05 pm: Confederation of Indian Industry’s Eastern India chapter has congratulated the Grand Alliance on its victory and committed itself to work with the new government in furthering the development agenda of the State. > Read more
3:02 pm: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said the Modi wave was on the wane and the real acche din have begun for the people of India. > Read more
3:00 pm: Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist [CPI-ML] has done reasonably well in the Bihar elections. The party has won at least two seats so far. CPI-ML had no representation in the last Assembly. > Read more
2.50 pm : DMK president M. Karunanidhi congratulates leader Nitish Kumar on his win in Bihar polls, saying the victory was “expected” as people of the state had voted for his “developmental achievements“.
2:45 pm: RSS says Rahul Gandhi's comment “not just defeating but smashing RSS” exhibits the undemocratic and intolerant mindset of Congress. Congress and Nehru family have carried this hatred and intolerance since Pt. Nehru’s time: RSS.
2:20 pm: Let's not forget to congratulate Rahul Gandhi for being the architect of Mahaghatbandhan. Thanks INC India for showing the way, says Sashi Tharoor.
1:55 pm:
“ There is a message for the PM to press the accelerator and begin work ”- Rahul Gandhi
1:32 pm:
“ Spoke to Nitish Kumar over the phone and congratulated him on his party's victory in Bihar assembly elections ”- Rajnath Singh
1:30 pm: 4.56 lakh votes for NOTA counted so far and that's 2.6 per cent of the total vote share.
1:25 pm:
“ Called Advani Ji to wish him a Happy Birthday, and received his blessings & congratulations. ”- Nitish Kumar
1:09 pm: Bihar voters have not only defeated the BJP, but even All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) which is expected to taste massive defeat in all the six seats it has contested. AIMIM may lose its deposits in some of the seats in East Bihar, adjacent to West Bengal, as it is nowhere close to the 16 per cent mark. > More...
1:07 pm: Amit Shah congratulates Nitish and Lalu, says BJP respects mandate of people of Bihar and offers his wishes to the new govt.
12:26 pm: Chandrika Rai (RJD) defeats her nearest LJP rival by over 40,000 votes in Parsa constituency.
12:18 pm:
“ This is a victory of unity over divisiveness. Humility over arrogance. Love over hate. A victory of the people of Bihar ”- Rahul Gandhi
12:16 pm:
“ Congratulations to Laluji and Nitishji for this victory in Bihar elections.We bow before people's mandate ”- Sushil Kumar Modi
12:08 pm: It appears that the issue of Bihari vs. Bahari has been settled once and for all, says Shatrughan Sinha.
12:04 pm: BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha calls the Grand Alliance's win a victory for democracy and the people of Bihar. "I salute them," he says.
12:01 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls up JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, congratulates him on poll victory.
11:56 am:
“ I congratulate Nitish ji, Lalu ji, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for this victory ”- Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
11:53 am:
“ We congratulate Nitish Kumar on his win, we will introspect on our defeat ”- BJP leader P. Murlidhar Rao
11:43 am:
“ BJP lost only because of alliance arithmetic ”- Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
11:41 am: Nitish Kumar thanks people of Bihar for their “overwhelming support” to the Grand Alliance.
11:28 am: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says, "congratulations Nitish Kumarji, Laluji and your full team. And all my Bihar brothers and sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance."
11:21 am: Crackers being burst outside Lalu Prasad's residence but flags of all 3 parties — RJD, JD(U) and Congress — seen.
11:13 am: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulates Nitish Kumar on "historic victory".
11:10 am: Tejaswi Yadav is leading in Raghopur by 1,457 votes.
10:48 am: Jitan Ram Manjhi trailing in Makhdumpur by 2,561 votes, ahead in Imamganj by 3,735.
10:31 am: NOTA gets 2.7% vote share.
10:29 am: Outside the the BJP office, bands and crackers have gone mute.
10:25 am:
“ What a comeback for JDU+. In 1 hour their leads hv overtaken dat of ours. It looks a photo finish. What an election ”- BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav
10:17 am:
“ Just wait for final results, we believe things will be in our favor at the end ”- BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi
10:09 am: Nand Kishore Yadav (BJP), a probable CM candidate, trailing right now in Patna Sahib by 3,598 votes
10:05 am:
“ I congratulate people of Bihar, I think we will get close to 150 seats. JD(U) on trends showing Mahagatbandhan leading ”- Sharad Yadav
10:01 am: Loud cheer heard inside Lalu Prasad's residence after positive trends start coming in.
9:53 am: Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui is leading in Alinagar by 874 votes.
9:38 am: Our correspondent Amarnath Tewary says there is not much activity outside Lalu Prasad's residence.
9:28 am: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at L.K. Advani's residence. The veteran is celebrating his birthday today.
9:26 am: Tejaswi Prasad Yadav trailing from Raghopur seat.
9:19 am:
“ We will win surely with very conclusive majority. People of Bihar need change ”- Ravi Shankar Prasad
9:17 am: Bihar Additional Chief Electoral Officer R. Lakshmanan says the first result can expected after 11 a.m.
9:12 am: Both sons of Lalu Prasad — Tej Pratap and Tejaswi — leading in their respective constituencies.
9:10 am: Ravi Shankar Prasad says the State election will have not have a national impact.
9:08 am: JD(U) and RJD are leading in 47 seats, as opposed to the BJP's 78.
9:04 am: BJP's Devesh Kumar says trends don't change in phases, implying the BJP will continue to lead.
9:01 am: BSP leading in BJP stronghold of Raxaul.
8:57 am: Jitan Ram Manjhi leading in Imamganj by 500 votes.
8:50 am: BJP+ leading in 50; JD(U)+ in 23
8:49 am:
“ Not nervous, have done this many times ”- Nitish Kumar
8:45 am: BJP workers and local leaders have started chanting 'Narendra Modi zindabad and Jai Sriram' slogans outside the State party headquarters. At local JD(U) headquarters, mood is not so enthusiastic now.
8:33 am:
“ Wishing all of our people success as the final counting ensues and the long awaited results start to unfold. Jai Bihar ”- Shatrughan Sinha
8:31 am: BJP+ ahead in 18; JD(U)+ in 11
8:30 am:Nand Kishore Yadav (BJP) is leading in Patna Sahib; Pashupati Paras (LJP) leading in Alauli.
8:28 am: Tejaswi Yadav is leading in Raghobur.
8:27 am:
“ We are very satisfied with the outcome of Bihar elections, we had lot of challenges ”- CEC Nasim Zaidi
8:24 am: BJP+ ahead in 10, the JD(U)+ in six.
8:21 am: Jitan Ram Manjhi is leading in Makhdumpur.
8:16 am: Early leads in. BJP+ ahead in six, the JD(U)+ in four.
8:12 am: BJP has said the poll result is not a referendum on the Modi govt.
“There is no question of the verdict in Bihar assembly polls being a referendum on the Narendra Modi government’s performance. If at all the Bihar polls are a referendum on anything, it is on Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and jungle raj,” BJP’s poll in-charge in Bihar and Union minister Ananth Kumar had told newsmen soon after the conclusion of the fifth and last phase of polling. > More...
8.01 am: Counting of votes begins.
8.00 am:
“ 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
7:42 am:
“ Good morning, we are winning ”- Lalu Prasad
7.00 am: Good morning, we are winning: RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav before counting begins for Bihar Elections.
6.45 am: Counting of votes for will start at 8 am.
6.30 am: A look at the 2010 results : The Janata Dal (United) won 115 of the 141 seats it contested, while the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged 91 of the 102 seats it contested. The BJP's performance in the State was not only its best since iIdependence but it also bettered the strike rate of its partner.
6.15 am: If the NDA wins, PM Modi will enter the Winter Session of Parliament on a confident note, having overcome a significant political challenge. >Read more
6.00 am: With the fifth and final phase of polling in 57 seats across nine districts having ended on Thursday, registering a 60 per cent voter turnout — highest in all phases of poll — the Bihar election appeared to be a tough contest between the BJP-led NDA and Nitish-Lalu led Grand Alliance.
5.30 am: BJP expressed confidence of victory in the Bihar assembly poll and claimed people have voted for the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. >Read more
5.20 am: Will voters punish the NDA for failing to stick to “vikas” throughout its campaign? >Read more
5.00 am: The JDU party workers hopes the grand coalition wins. They say along with 35,000 chattai bombs — crackers and the Hari Om Band, 135 kg of motichoor ladoos have been ordered.
4.45 am: In the BJP camp, all the central leaders have flown back to Delhi and will not return — unless the party wins, as Amit Shah said.
4.30 am: Lalu Prasad seems the most relaxed among all, who has visited all 243 constituencies.
4.20 am: The RJD office, located on the same road as the BJP headquarters, seems relatively quiet.
4.15 am: In Janata Dal(United) office here is a floor to roof poster of the Bihar Chief Minister, with the words Aaage badhta rahe Bihar, phir ek bar Nitish Kumar [If Bihar is to continue moving forward, once more Nitish Kumar] emblazoned across it.
4.00 am: Welcome to The Hindu coverage of Bihar election. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute coverage of the poll verdict.
