Applause pours in for Nitish as Mahagathbandhan heads for comprehensive win in Bihar

As the grand alliance heads for a clinical victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Sunday received applause from his various counterparts and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Congratulations @NitishKumar ji, Lalu ji and your full team. And all my Bihar brothers and sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also congratulated Nitish, saying this victory will prove critical for the nation in the days to come.

"Heartiest congratulations on a well deserved victory @NitishKumar sahib.It was the BJP, not Nitish, that made this election a referendum on the Modi Govt. They have to live with the results, win or lose," Omar tweeted.

Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah congratulated the grand alliance for the victory.

"This election was projected as a political war between Prime Minister Modi and Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar has won this battle," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Bengaluru.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Nitish to congratulate him on his victory.

"Just received a phone call from the Prime Minister congratulating me. Thank you Modiji," Nitish tweeted.

The party wise breakdown after 10 rounds of counting showed the RJD leading in 74, JD (U) 69, BJP 63 , INC 15, LJP five, RLSP four, HAM three, CPI two and others six seats respectively.

Meanwhile, putting up a brave face, the BJP branded the comeback by the grand alliance as 'interesting' and said that they were ready to accept whatever was the mandate given by the people of Bihar.