Mumbai, Nov 11 (IANS): The ruling Shiv Sena thumped the back of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for putting up "a glorious fight single-handedly", leading to the emergence of 'youth power', and fighting against all odds in the just-concluded Bihar Assembly elections.

Terming the results as largely on the expected lines, the Sena on Wednesday said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) has nevertheless received a major setback at the hustings.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party-JDU partnership gained and the NDA alliance returns to power, the moot question is whether Nitish Kumar will become the Bihar CM again," the Sena said in twin edits in the party newspapers 'Saamana' and 'Dopahar Ka Saamana'.

The issue may remain hanging as JD(U) failed to bag even 50 seats compared with the BJP's 74, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was compelled to declare that even if Nitish Kumar's party secured less seats, he would become the CM.

"He (Shah) had made a similar promise to Shiv Sena in 2019, but broke it and a new political 'Mahabharata' raged in Maharashtra. If he keeps the assurance made to Nitish Kumar now, then its credit goes to Shiv Sena," the edits said, dropping dark hints if the BJP reneges on its promise again.

Whatever may happen on the governance front, the Sena says that "a new era of the youth led by the young and firebrand Tejashwi Yadav has dawned in the Bihar politics", and he single-handedly challenged the might of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, J.P. Nadda, Nitish Kumar and others on the ruling side

"What was scorned as a 'one-sided' election became a real 'contest' only because of Tejashwi Yadav's campaign. At his stormy rallies, this 31-year-old boy raised the questions of development, employment, education, health, which were earlier sidelined for 15 years," the Sena pointed out.

"While Modi labelled this boy as the 'Crown Prince of Jungle Raj', etc., Tejashwi remained composed and restrained in his campaign, though Nitish Kumar was so rattled by the prospects of a defeat that he made an 'emotional appeal' saying this was his last election, sa.

Tejashwi Yadav's Mahagathbandhan (MGB) performed well, with the RJD emerging as the single-largest party (75 seats), besides the Left parties putting up a good show.

"We don't think that Tejashwi Yadav has lost...Losing an election is not a defeat, just as juggling figures to increase the tally is not a win. The rulers lost no opportunity to defame and corner him, but he gave a tough challenge, just like his family, not stopping or stumbling before the powerful leaders in New Delhi and Patna," the Sena noted.

"This moment will be recorded in the country's political history. Bihar election has given a new name of Tejashwi Yadav to the nation's politics. The more he is praised for it, the less" the edits concluded.