December 14, 2024 20:28 (IST)
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Bihar: Nitish set to return to power, PM Modi congratulates him
Patna. Nov 8 (IBNS): After a nail-biting fight to grab majority in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the Grand Alliance, comprising Bihar Chief Minister Nitsh Kumar's JD(U), Lalu Prasad Yadav's (RJD) and Congress, emerged a winner as is all set to form the government in Bihar as the counting for the assembly election proceeded on Sunday.
During the early morning trends, the NDA, led by BJP, was leading. However, in a dramatic change, the Nitish Kumar-Lalu Yadav-Congress alliance came ahead leaving PM Narendra Modi's BJP trailing far behind.
According to latest trends, the Grand Alliance is leading in 156 seats while the BJP and its three allies are trailing behind in 76 seats. Others are leading in 11 seats.
Accepting defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Nitish Kumar to congratulate him for the win.
"Just received a phone call from the Prime Minister congratulating me," tweeted Nitish Kumar, adding "thank you Modiji".
Nitish also thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, all of whom have wished him on the win.
"Thank you Sonia Ji for your congratulatory phone call," he tweeted.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav also thanked the "poor and oppressed people" of Bihar for their "historic win" in the state assembly polls.
The Grand Alliance's small but significant ally, Congress, said that this win in Bihar is that of unity over divisiveness.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "This is a victory of unity over divisiveness. Humility over arrogance. Love over hate. A victory of the people of Bihar."
"Congratulations to the people of Bihar, to Nitishji,to Laluji,to the Congress leaders &karyakartas & the Mahagathbandhan on this victory," he posted.
Extending her wishes, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee tweeted: "Congratulations @NitishKumar ji, Lalu ji & your full team. And all my Bihar brothers & sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance."
National General Secretary of BJP Ram Madhav, earlier in the day, accepting the party's defeat in Bihar at the hands of a Grand Alliance said they would analyse the results and take corrective steps.
"If there is defeat at the end of the day we have to accept it. Whatever is the mandate we accept. It is democracy," he told NDTV as the results showed a clear win for the
JDU-RJD.
"We will analyse what happened. I do not believe any one factor lead to defeat or victory. We will analyse," said Madhav, who is also a known Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) person.
"What we got is we got because of our best factors," he said, while avoiding to remark on whether the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah way of campaigning went wrong.
Meanwhile, BJP's ally in Maharashtra government Shiv Sena blamed PM Modi for the loss in Bihar polls.
BJP leader Ram Madhav, speaking to NDTV, said, "The loss will not affect Narendra Modi's image, but we are looking at corrective measures."
"We want to do well in the next election,"Madhav said.
As reactions poured in, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav slammed the BJP over their Pakistan comment, after the grand alliance showed signs of forming the Bihar government.
Yadav told NDTV: "They won the 2014 elections by creating division and tried the same tactic here, but it failed."
"They thought that the cow is going to save them," Yadav said, while adding, "And commented that Pakistan is going to celebrate if they lose, but the people of Bihar have voted for development."
When asked if Nitish is going to be the Chief Minister of the state, Yadav said, "There is no doubt about that issue. The Grand Alliance has won and that's what matters the most."
Bihar went to a five-phased Assembly polls that ended on Thursday last.
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