Image source: theindiaexpress.com
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was announced as the winner of the Bihar Assembly election in the early hours of Wednesday morning after more than 14 hours of counting. Boosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's several rallies, the NDA hit the majority mark of 122 at 2.57 AM. According to data on the Election Commission's website, the BJP won 72 seats to emerge as the senior member in its alliance with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU, which managed just 42.
"Every section of Bihar has rejected hollow promises, casteism and politics of appeasement, and has backed the NDA's development agenda," Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted late Tuesday night. Minutes after Mr Shah's tweet, PM Modi tweeted, saying the people of Bihar have made a "decisive decision" to give development a chance.
The Election Commission held four press briefings since morning the counting of votes took place amid pandemic times. The state elections in Bihar are the biggest in the country since the start of the pandemic. It was a grand battle for the BJP-JDU combine as well as for Tejashwi Yadav's Grand Alliance as he made a attempt for the RJD's return to power. Of 243 seats, the JDU contested 122 seats, while the BJP contested 121 seats. Targeted by opposition, he faced a major anti-incumbency wave.
Earlier in the day, as the NDA surged ahead, the Grand Alliance, refused to concede. While the Congress said they would wait till the last vote is counted, the RJD has made an appeal to its supporters to stay at counting centres till midnight.