The NDA was set to sweep the Bihar assembly polls, surging ahead in close to 200 out of 243 seats Friday with the BJP emerging as single largest party with nearly 95 per cent strike rate, reaffirming the popularity and campaign clout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the face of the ruling alliance through the poll battle in the highly sensitive political state.

The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, the Congress and three Left parties, seemed to be poised for a crushing defeat, notwithstanding surveys and opinion polls showing its Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav as the most preferred leader for the top post. The Opposition alliance was struggling to cross the 35-seat mark.

BJP’s lead in more than 95 assembly seats out of 101 it contested, a performance that would

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