Bihar outcome referendum on Modi: Kejriwal

The BJP-led coalition's defeat in Bihar was a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's working style, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday.

"The results are a referendum on the work and working style of Modi," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader told media persons here.

He also said that the impressive win by the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and its allies Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress had shattered the "arrogance" and "self-pride" of Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

"The Bihar results have proved that the people do not approve of the politics of hatred.

"An atmosphere of intolerance had enveloped the entire country. I am hopeful that all this will stop and the politics of affection will start."

After congratulating his Bihar counterpart and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar on the "historic victory", Kejriwal referred to the rising prices of food items.

"The people of this country want that Modi should stop touring foreign countries and work in India."

Later, the AAP said in a statement that "it was teaching a lesson to the BJP for its politics of hatred".

Kejriwal, who has been having a running feud with the central government, had come out in support of Nitish Kumar ahead of and during the staggered Bihar elections that ended on November 5.

Kejriwal, whose AAP routed the BJP in Delhi assembly elections in February, hoped that the Bihar outcome would bring an end to the "illegal" and "unconstitutional" interference by the central government in Delhi.