The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), powered by the BJP, has crossed the halfway mark in the counting of votes for the 243-strong Bihar Assembly, with 119 seats. The Tejashwi Yadav-led Mahagathbandhan is leading in 113 seats.
The BJP has also emerged the single largest party with leads in 72 seats, relegating it’s alliance partner JD(U) to the third slot with 43 seats. This, experts say, is drastically going to change the power equation in the ruling combine. The RJD is at the second slot with 75 seats but leads the pack in vote share with 23.3% votes in its kitty.
Tejashwi Yadav, fighting his first Assembly election without the guidance of his father Lalu Prasad Yadav, appears to fall short of expectations generated by the buzz around his rallies and his poll promises.
The LJP’s Chirag Paswan may not have gained much in terms of seats, going by the leads, but seems to have dented JD(U) chances in many constituencies.