JDU workers burst crackers and (right) RJD supporters distribute sweets in Patna on Monday. Pictures by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 25: Crackers and sweets at party offices today marked the successful electoral comeback of the Lalu-Nitish unity.

The state party headquarters of the RJD and JDU — hardly 100 metres apart on Beer Chand Patel Marg — were teemed with leaders and their supporters much before the final results were declared late afternoon. A couple of months ago on a sultry afternoon when the general election results were out, the mood was sombre at both the offices but today was different.

“After a long time, I am witnessing such celebrations in the office. The morale of our workers and supporters went down after the Lok Sabha elections results. I am really happy that finally the smile is back to our party workers and it was the need of the hour for a great change in the state,” said Chandeshwar Prasad Singh, state office secretary of the RJD, who is associated with the party for the past 15 years.

At the RJD office, many senior leaders like state president Ram Chandra Purbey and secretary-general Mudrika Singh, Kanti Singh and others were found celebrating the occasion along with party workers. Sweets were distributed after paying the floral tribute to former chief minister late BP Mandal on his birth anniversary.

Slogans like “Lalu-Nitish jindabad” and “mahagathbandhan jindabad” were echoing the office premises while supporters were busy waving party flags with smiles on their faces. “It is the victory of secular forces and defeat of communal forces,” said a jubilant Purbey.

Similarly, the JDU office was equally active and party workers were found bursting crackers in front of the office gate. Supporters shouting slogans like “Bihar ki vikas adhuri hai, Nitish Kumar jaroori hai” ranted the air even as crackers went for 20 minutes in a row.

“This victory was necessary to show the power of grand alliance and now the BJP leaders should have serious introspection on their future in Bihar. Everywhere the NaMo factor will not work. What about their big claims?” said JDU MLC Sanjay Singh.

Much before the results were announced, the party workers had started gathering to congratulate each other. A few stuck to the TV sets to get the final results while many others moved outside to express their happiness.

Though the grand alliance included the Congress the scenario at the party office was not like the RJD’s or the JDU’s as very leaders were found at the party office. However, those who were present did not miss to come up with explanations. “We could have won the Narkatiaganj seat if the candidate would not have been a Muslim. We were in alliance so it was expected to get the Muslim vote. This seat should have been given to a Hindu candidate,” said a Congress worker.