Unlike other high-profile entrants such as Asaduddin Owaisi and Mulayam Singh Yadav, the six Left parties, which contested together for the first time in history, opted for a low-key campaign.

And they made a modest debut with three seats and 3.5 per cent of the vote share.

Strong presence

Although the CPI and the CPI(ML)-Liberation have historically had a strong presence in Bihar, this is the first time they fought together with the CPI(M), which has only a marginal presence in the State.

While the CPI(ML)-Liberation won three seats, the CPI(M) was runner-up in one seat and the CPI finished third in a couple of seats. The Left parties have been maintaining that their role is not just fighting elections but taking on the “casteist and feudal” elements in the State.

In the past, they have been part of various alliances. This time, there was pressure on the Left parties to support the Grand Alliance. But they decided to go it alone as the Left Front.

In it alone

Some leaders of the Left believed that going it alone will help in splitting the anti-incumbency votes and aid the Grand Alliance. On Sunday, the parties expressed happiness that the Narendra Modi juggernaut had been stopped.

“Bihar has spoken for the whole country, and this historic verdict will inspire and empower a range of ongoing struggles — of peasants, workers, students, writers, scientists and intellectuals — in defence of democracy,” said CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya.

He claimed that the people have also reposed their faith in his party and other Left parties in “key areas of struggle”.

The CPI(M) congratulated Bihar voters for rejecting the “rank communal campaign conducted by the BJP, led by the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo with divisive issues like cow and beef and the bogey of reservations for minorities…

“It is also an indication that the 18-month record of the BJP Central government which has imposed economic burdens on the people has met with disapproval,” the party said.

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