Modi’s party gains in Bihar state assembly elections

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies on Tuesday appeared to be winning a key state election seen as a barometer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak and negative economic fallout caused by the pandemic, The Associated Press reported.

India’s election commission website showed that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party and his regional ally Janata Dal United were leading in 123 seats of eastern Bihar state’s 243-seat legislature.

A coalition of more than three political parties opposed to the incumbent alliance was trailing with 113 seats.

The election for control of Bihar, India’s second-most populous state, is seen as a referendum on Modi’s popularity.

His opponents have criticized what they call his government’s inept handling of the pandemic, which has led to more than 127,000 death so far nationwide.

Bihar is India’s key electoral battleground, where Modi’s party and his alliance partner are pitted against the resurgent Rashtriya Janata Dal party, led by a 31-year-old Tejashwi Yadav.

“Bihar has taught the world the first lesson of democracy. Today Bihar has told the world again how democracy is strengthened. A record number of poor, deprived and women of Bihar also voted and today have also given their decisive decision for development,” PM Modi tweeted in Hindi.