What Bihar Election Results mean for Nitish Kumar, Narendra Modi & Lalu Yadav

Patna: The results for the electrifying 2015 Bihar Assembly Elections are out and the Mahagathbandhan – an alliance floated by Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress - has emerged as the winner.

For each of the main protagonists of this extremely entertaining elections, the verdict means different things.

Lalu Yadav

The poll results have once again proved the famous saying, 'Jab tak rahega samose mein aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar mein Lalu'. The RJD chief, who had been written off by many political pundits, especially after the 2014 General Elections and his conviction by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case, has proved that he is a potent force to reckon with in Bihar, where caste and religion still play a significant role in deciding an election outcome.

Though not eligible to contest the high-pitched Bihar election, Lalu with his maverick comic style attracted the Bihar electorate to vote for the RJD. With RJD bagging a substantial number of seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the former chief minister may prove a headache for Nitish Kumar and arm twist the government.

With Lalu's family members emerging as winners, the RJD is expected to become a rival power centre to Nitish.

Nitish Kumar

The clean image and soft spoken behaviour of Nitish Kumar, often referred to as Chanakya of Bihar politics, helped him win possibly the toughest electoral battle of his career. The 2015 Bihar poll win might put Nitish on the national stage and establish him as a face who can take on the BJP's top most leader, Narendra Modi. Though, bonhomie is being seen between foe-turned-friends, the JD(U) leader may face an uphill task to keep a check on Lalu's RJD.

Narendra Modi

The 2015 Bihar Assembly Election was a battle between Modi and the rest. The result of the Bihar polls is a big setback for 'brand Modi'. The NDA government at the Centre is sure to face a strong united opposition during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament, in which BJP is keen to pass some key bills.

PM Modi needs to get the developmental agenda back on track and rein in troublesome elements like Sakshi Maharaj, Sadvi Prachhi, Yogi Adityanath and many more.

The RSS, which has till now thrown its weight behind Modi and Amit Shah, may now flex its muscles and opt for some structural changes in BJP's style of election campaigning.

What's most important for PM Modi is to get the economy back on track, control the spiralling prices of essential items, as only 'impressive' speeches' are unlikely to help the BJP much in the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.