Can Nitish Kumar engineer Lalu's fall?

New Delhi: Lalu-Rabri Raj seems to be coming to an end in Bihar with the NDA-JD(U) and BJP combine establishing early lead in the 243-member Assembly polls.

Trends of the results coming in at 1000 hrs (IST) showed JD(U)-BJP alliance leading early in 126 constituencies, with RJD and its partners trailing at 54.

This could well mean the end of Lalu -led RJD's 15-year rule in Bihar.

On the streets of Bihar, the mood is cautious, but optimistic. JDU spokesperson Shambu Srivastav told IBN's Sumit Pandey that the party's estimation has been proven correct.

He also claimed the extreme backward class played an important role in the JDU's imminent victory.

Senior JD(U) leader Prabhunath is already predicting party victory, stating the government will be formed under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. However, he was noncommittal on who the new chief minister would be.

Former Chief Minister and RJD chief's wife Rabri Devi was trailing in her pocketborough Raghopur by 600 votes.

Early trends indicate that LJP which played a spoiler in the February polls, suffering reverses with party leader Pasupati Paras, younger brother of party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, trailing in his traditional constituency.

The Union Minister virtually conceded defeat saying the adverse results for RJD and his party would have no impact on the UPA coalition at the Centre.

The LJP has been able to establish leads in less than 14 seats so far.

The NDA, which had projected Nitish Kumar as chief ministerial candidate, appeared to be making inroads in all the regions.

The first result has gone in favour of BJP, with Renu Devi winning from Bettiah.

BJP is the junior partner of JD-U in the state.

ADM and Election Incharge Patna, Prashant Shankar says thousands of security personnel had been deployed for the polling process and nothing had been left to chance.

Four hundred security men have been deployed at the counting centers throughout Bihar on Tuesday, Shankar said.

Meanwhile, the time spent between the opening of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the declaration of the results is going to be extremely tense for the politicians.

Many have even pitched tents right outside the counting centres so as to keep an eye on the counting process alongwith their supporters.

For the main players, the wait is bound to be an anxious one.

RJD Chief Lalu Yadav is to spend the entire day his 1 Anne Marg residence.

He will be flanked by his supporters as he watches his fate transform on television.

Nitish Kumar will also be watching the counting process at his Delhi residence. Ramvilas Paswan is to arrive in Patna as soon as the counting process begins.