Read moreWhile the BJP’s vote share was 39.7%, the BSP’s was 22.2%, SP 21.8% and the Congress 6.2%. The combined vote share of the three non-BJP parties adds up to 50.2%. Congress leader CP Joshi cited the equation to push for the non-BJP grouping. “Nitish Kumar should be the leader of the grand alliance, only then will it be possible to defeat the BJP,” party leader Sanjay Singh said. On the day the Congress pitched for the alliance, party leaders defended vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the recent electoral setbacks.

Source: Hindustan Times March 16, 2017 16:41 UTC