Poll | Nitish-Lalu set to rule Bihar: Is this good for the state?

Nitish Kumar looked set for a third term as chief minister of Bihar as the grand alliance surged past the majority mark in the final stage of counting of votes on Sunday. With Nitish-Lalu set to rule Bihar, is this good for the state?

Nitish Kumar looked set for a third term as chief minister of Bihar as the grand alliance surged past the majority mark in the final stage of counting of votes on Sunday.

The Grand Alliance -- comprising the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress -- was ahead in nearly 170 of the 243 seats when trends last came in. (HT File photo)

The Grand Alliance -- comprising the Janata Dal (United), the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress -- was ahead in nearly 170 of the 243 seats when trends last came in.

The biggest gainer was Lalu Prasad’s RJD, which was on way to become the single largest party in the House.

Prasad, who could not contest the polls due to his conviction in a corruption case, has so far indicated he will stick to his promise of supporting Kumar as the chief minister.

But the RJD will have a considerable clout in the government and this could bring comparisons to its past tenure which was mocked by political rivals as “jungle raj.”