India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies have won a close race in the key state of Bihar.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "democracy has once again won in Bihar" in a vote many viewed as a test of his government's Covid-19 response.His National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 125 seats in the 243-member assembly, the Election Commission said.Tuesday's election was the first major poll in India since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NDA beat regional heavyweight Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) despite exit polls that suggested the RJD-led coalition would emerge victorious.They had predicted a wave of anti-incumbency against long-time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.But in a nail-biting contest the NDA edged past its chief challenger, even though the RJD became the single largest party with 75 seats.First major pandemic vote a test of Modi's popularity
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The northern state of Bihar which is one of the country's poorest, has been hard hit by the pandemic, recording more than 220,000 coronavirus cases and 1,000 deaths so far.

But the state still ploughed forward with the polls. Virtual rallies quickly gave way to crowded arenas as top leaders, including Mr Modi and Mr Kumar, hit the ground to bolster their campaigns.

Mr Modi tweeted his coalition were victorious around midnight on Tuesday: "Democracy has once again won in Bihar with the blessings of the people," he wrote. "I congratulate the workers and express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Bihar."

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The BJP's Hindu nationalist base is concentrated in India's so-called Hindi heartland - states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. But Bihar is the only one where the party has never won on its own.

Despite decisive parliamentary victories in 2014 and 2019, the BJP has failed to script similar wins in state polls.

It has not won a clear majority in any state since elections in Uttar Pradesh four years ago. And in the last two years, it has lost six state elections. It won just one by cobbling together a majority with a regional rival-turned-partner.

But the BJP's patchy electoral record in states is not necessarily indicative of waning popularity, writes our correspondent Soutik Biswas. He says observers believe that it's also the result of local leaders "who appear to lack charisma beside Mr Modi's larger-than-life, presidential personality".

The chief opposition, the RJD, led a "grand alliance" that included India's main opposition party, Congress, and a clutch of Left parties.Its candidate for chief minister was Tejashwi Yadav, the 31-year-old son of two former chief ministers. His father, Laloo Prasad Yadav, is now serving a jail term for corruption.