JD-U forges ahead in Bihar

New Delhi, Nov 8: The Grand Alliance of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forged ahead in the battle for the 243-seat Bihar assembly, latest trends from the vote count showed.

After trailing to the BJP-led combine initially, Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and its allies Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress surged ahead.

"The Grand Alliance has moved towards victory," JD-U leader Pavan Verma said in Patna. "It is a defeat for (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and (BJP president) Amit Shah."

"We will form a government with a clear majority," he added.

Trends emerging from the counting centres said the Grand Alliance candidates were racing ahead in 115 seats and those of the BJP alliance in 93 seats. Smaller parties were in the lead in seven seats.

IANS