Joyous scenes were witnessed outside the JD(U) headquarters here, with party workers bursting firecrackers, smearing ‘gulaal’ on one another and playing drums, as NDA led in 186 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly.

What began as a cautious cluster of workers glued to their mobile phones quickly morphed into a swelling carnival as the Election Commission’s updates kept nudging the NDA deeper into a commanding lead.

The JD(U)’s own 76-seat lead electrified the crowd, prompting a volley of cheers and rounds of fireworks that left the air thick with acrid smoke.

A giant poster of Nitish Kumar was lifted above the crowd, its edges snapping in the November breeze.

“Nitish ji ki paanchvi jeet likhi ja chuki hai’... bas formalities baaki hain! (Nitish ji’s fifth victory is already written..

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