Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted defeat for his governing BJP in a key regional election in the eastern state of Bihar.The BJP was running against an alliance of parties in the state assembly.Mr Modi won a convincing victory in last year's national elections, but this poll was seen as a referendum on his economic programme.Defeat is a major setback for the prime minister, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi.However, a spokesman for the Hindu-led nationalist BJP rejected suggestions the result was a personal blow for Mr Modi, saying the party "managed a creditable performance".The prime minister had been hoping a victory in Bihar would boost his party's strength in India's upper house of parliament, which made up of representatives of state legislatures and where he lacks a majority.Partial results showed that the anti-Modi alliance was on course to win 178 seats in the 243-member assembly, compared with the BJP's 53 seats.With a population of 100 million, Bihar is one of India's largest states and one of the poorest.
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