NDA led by JDU and Nitish Kumar has overtaken the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan and has gained leads in over 125 seats, which is over the required majority of 122 assembly seats. Counting of votes across 55 counting centres in Bihar begun at 8 am today.
Nitish Kumar-led NDA is back in power in Bihar with a slender majority. While a ground-level survey as to what kept the Nitish Kumar government in power may take time, here is an estimate of what might appeared to have worked for the NDA and against the Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan.
Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party managed to win only one seat while being instrumental in the defeat of the BJP's ally JD(U) in many seats, Paswan tweeted that he was "proud" that his party did not bend down for power. His party had won two seats in the 2015 polls.The LJP received 5.68 per cent of votes while contesting on nearly 140 seats in the elections to the 243-seat Bihar assembly. For more, watch the full video.
RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats in Bihar Assembly.
Women voters have often been hailed as the ‘silent force’ behind Nitish Kumar’s consecutive electoral victories in Bihar. The women of Bihar have once again appeared to come out in full support of Nitish Kumar – paving the way for a fourth successive term.
In his first reaction following the election results, Nitish Kumar said the people are supreme and he thanks the support they have given to the NDA.
Congress leader and general secretary Tariq Anwar on Thursday said the party "must accept the truth" of its dismal performance in the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections.
For close to 15 years, he ruled politically volatile Bihar with a paradoxical cocktail of stubborn ideology and pragmatic resilience, making friends with foes and foes with friends at will. Nitish Kumar's unusual knack for spotting friends has ensured a fourth straight term for him in office despite the drastic slump in his electoral fortune that relegated his JD (U) to the third position in the state assembly with just 43 seats, down from 71 it had won in 2015. The most atypical of politicians owing their rise to post-Mandal politics, Nitish Kumar stood out for his ability to address the governance deficit, unlike a majority of the breed reared in the socialist stable, but was often accused of pursuing politics of opportunism. Call it political opportunism or sagacity, his moves, in effect, prevented the Hindutva forces from holding sway over Bihar, where a section of the BJP feels mortified over not having its own chief minister till date despite enjoying a near hegemonic status nationally. Known for weighing his options carefully before making any move, Kumar, upon a closer look, comes across as a risk taker who has not shied away from going against the tide. An engineer by training who had taken an active part in the JP movement, Kumar spurned a job offer from the state electricity department and decided to take the political gamble, an oddity among educated youth in Bihar for whom the lure of "sarkaari naukri" remains undiminished. Unlike Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan, his co-travellers during the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan, electoral success eluded Kumar for long.
A report by election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) suggested that almost two-third of the candidates who have won in 2020 Bihar Assembly elections have criminal background.
Addressing party workers at BJP's headquarters in Delhi after NDA's victory in Bihar polls, PM Modi said that the secret to winning Bihar elections is sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwaas.
Runner-up parties call for a recount in some seats, after a very close Assembly race, but officials denied as of now.
PM Modi helped the NDA lift the trophy in Bihar by beating the Mahagathbandhan, led by a spirited Tejashwi Yadav. The lantern is out of power and the arrow has lost its sting, but the lotus has bloomed. How PM Modi’s magic in Bihar worked wonders for the NDA. The Modi charisma trumped all and won it for Nitish Kumar.
The CAA has come back in the political discourse ahead of five assembly elections. The BJP has said it is committed to roll out the CAA. The Congress, the TMC and the Left have promised to block it if they win state polls.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as chief minister of Bihar for the seventh time on November 16. However, this will be his fourth full term in office as the chief minister of Bihar.
Chirag Paswan's future in the NDA is at stake as the alliance prepares to form government in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said it is for the BJP to take a call on Chirag Paswan after what he did in Bihar election.
The BJP is going for a Uttar Pradesh formula of governance in Bihar. The party has decided to nominate two deputy chief ministers under CM Nitish Kumar, the JDU president. The BJP's nominees are expected to be Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi.
Amid the suspense over the next deputy chief minister of Bihar, the fourth term Katihar MLA Tarkishore Prasad was on Sunday named as the BJP legislature party leader, indicating he could be the deputy chief minister in the new NDA government headed by Nitish Kumar.
BJP's Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi are likely to be the Deputy CMs of Bihar, according to sources.
Suspense over Sushil Modi as Bihar deputy chief minister continues as Rajnath Singh, who is in Patna as an observer, said no decision has been taken yet.
Nitish Kumar will take oath for the seventh time as the chief minister of Bihar. The swearing-in ceremony will start at 4.30 PM tomorrow.
