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| India PM Narendra Modi in Bihar election setback | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted defeat for his governing BJP in a key regional election in the eastern state of Bihar. | |
| The BJP was running against an alliance of parties in the state assembly. | The BJP was running against an alliance of parties in the state assembly. |
| Mr Modi won a convincing victory in last year's national elections, but this poll was seen as a referendum on his economic programme. | Mr Modi won a convincing victory in last year's national elections, but this poll was seen as a referendum on his economic programme. |
| Defeat is a major setback for the prime minister, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi. | |
| However, a spokesman for the Hindu-led nationalist BJP rejected suggestions the result was a personal blow for Mr Modi, saying the party "managed a creditable performance". | |
| The prime minister had been hoping a victory in Bihar would boost his party's strength in India's upper house of parliament, which made up of representatives of state legislatures and where he lacks a majority. | The prime minister had been hoping a victory in Bihar would boost his party's strength in India's upper house of parliament, which made up of representatives of state legislatures and where he lacks a majority. |
| Partial results showed that the anti-Modi alliance was on course to win 178 seats in the 243-member assembly, compared with the BJP's 53 seats. | |
| With a population of 100 million, Bihar is one of India's largest states and one of the poorest. | |
| Analysis: Soutik Biwas, BBC News in Delhi | Analysis: Soutik Biwas, BBC News in Delhi |
| The BJP's defeat in Bihar is the second consecutive setback for Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party since it swept to power in Delhi last year. | |
| Earlier this year the BJP suffered a drubbing at the hands of an upstart anti-corruption party in Delhi. Now a "grand alliance" of powerful regional parties has handed out a defeat in what is one of India's most politically crucial states. | |
| Despite what his defenders say, Sunday's defeat is another blow to the charismatic Mr Modi, who is arguably the party's biggest vote-getter and who attended 26 campaign rallies in Bihar ahead of the vote. The results make it clear that Mr Modi's vote-catching abilities are on the wane and voters are already holding him to the promises he made to them last year. | Despite what his defenders say, Sunday's defeat is another blow to the charismatic Mr Modi, who is arguably the party's biggest vote-getter and who attended 26 campaign rallies in Bihar ahead of the vote. The results make it clear that Mr Modi's vote-catching abilities are on the wane and voters are already holding him to the promises he made to them last year. |
| For India's bedraggled opposition, the Bihar victory is a major shot in the arm. They will now be emboldened to challenge Mr Modi by forging alliances and change the narrative of Indian politics. | For India's bedraggled opposition, the Bihar victory is a major shot in the arm. They will now be emboldened to challenge Mr Modi by forging alliances and change the narrative of Indian politics. |