In a historic and decisive mandate paving the way for Nitish Kumar’s tenth term as Chief Minister, Bihar returned the ruling NDA to power in a landslide Friday in the Assembly elections, decimating the Opposition Mahagathbandhan and strengthening the hands of the BJP at the Centre ahead of electoral battles in some key states going to polls next year.

With the NDA crossing the 200-mark in a House of 243, the mandate appeared to be similar to the one in 2010 when the JD(U)- BJP alliance was swept back to power with 206 seats and Nitish became Chief Minister for a third term.

For the Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress and three Left parties, this was a crushing defeat, shrinking the Opposition space in the House considerably. Until late night, its tally was hovering around 35

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