After more than 14 hours of counting, dozens of twists and turns and allegations of cheating, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was announced as the winner of the Bihar Assembly election in the (very) early hours of Wednesday morning. 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.
The BJP had claimed victory in Bihar assembly polls for the National Democratic Alliance even as the counting for 50 seats were still underway.
"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 unprecedented times; India is the second worst-affected country by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The state elections in Bihar are the biggest in the country since the start of the pandemic.
It was a high-stake battle for the BJP-JDU combine as well as for Tejashwi Yadav's Grand Alliance as he made a desperate 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.
Nitish Kumar's ex-ally Chirag Paswan, who chose to go solo this time, is another young leader on the frontline in the state apart from Tejashwi Yadav, ex-chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's son. The JDU today said the ruling party has been "hurt" by Chirag Paswan's stinging comments amid the campaign heat after he parted ways. However the LJP's performance has not been impressive as many observers called it a "vote cutter" for Nitish Kumar.
Over the last few weeks, a fierce campaign saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi - the NDA'S de-facto face- seeking votes for Nitish Kumar. The BJP-JDU combine has been targeted by opposition over issues such as unemployment and the handling of the pandemic.
Tejashwi Yadav had made a big poll promise of 10 lakh jobs. While the BJP attacked Tejashwi Yadav over the issue, the party's manifesto also made a mention of 19 lakh jobs, apart from "free Covid vaccine" - which gave more ammunition to the opposition. Many opposition leaders alleged that the ruling party is using pandemic to get votes.
Nitish Kumar, who has faced jibes, slogan-shouting crowds and on one occasion, an onion attack, has said this will be his last election. "This election will end and this is my last election. Ant bhala to sab bhala (All's well that ends well)," he said while campaigning in Bihar's Purnea.