It was supposed to be a dead heat, barring a few brave predictions – and an exit poll that was not used. But, as has been happening for some time now, the electorate turned in an unambiguous and decisive mandate, giving the Nitish Kumar-led Mahagatbandhan 178 out of 243 seats in the Bihar assembly, reducing the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance to a mere 58.

How high-pitched the BJP campaign can perhaps be gauged by the fact that on Monday, newspapers seemed to focus on the BJP's massive defeat rather than the Grand Alliance's stunning victory in their headlines, with a reminder of some of the barbs used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah.

Here's a selection:


Hindustan Times



Indian Express



Times of India



Telegraph



Times of India



Economic Times



Mumbai Mirror



Navbharat Times



Dainik Jagran



Amar Ujala



Telegraph




The BJP president Amit Shah had talked about how his party's defeat in Bihar would result in crackers bursting in Pakistan. The Dawn newspaper therefore should be allowed to have the last word: