JD(U)-BJP head for landslide victory in Bihar

The Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the Bihar polls on Wednesday and is all set retain power with absolute majority, while the Opposition parties suffered serious setbacks.

The ruling JD(U)-BJP combine has bagged 112 seats till 5 pm, while it was leading in 93 other constituencies.

The JD(U) has so far won 62 seats and its ally BJP, 50 seats.

The Bihar Assembly has 243 seats.

On the other hand, the Opposition parties suffered major reverses, failing to retain even its tally of last elections.

Lalu Prasad?s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has so far won 10 seats and was leading in 13 others.

It ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has bagged just one seat till 5 pm and was leading in another three.

The RJD-LJP combine had totaled 64 seats last time.

The Congress had a similar fate, winning four seats and leading in one till 5 pm against its nine seats in 2005 polls.

Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is all set to retain power in the state Assembly elections, attributed the JD(U)-BJP alliance win to victory of development over caste politics and pledged to work even harder for the development of the state.

Terming it a ?victory of the people of Bihar?, Kumar, addressing a press conference as results trickled in indicating a massive mandate in his favour, said, ?Bihar has left caste behind. The verdict in the elections is the people’s stamp of approval for that ending.?

In a sharp attack on Opposition RJD and LJP, he said, ?People don?t want to read the writing on the wall.?

?Voters had to choose between progress and antiquated politics. They have chosen to surge ahead,? he said.

Pledging to work harder, he said, ?I promise the people of Bihar that we will work even harder than we have in the last five years. I will not shy away from hard work. We will face any tests together.?