Now the editors have at it. DH and TOI call it a vote for change. DH urges the new government to concentrate on development and genuine social justice. The Economic Times calls it a defeat for identity politics, but add that caste still played a role - I need to think that one over. The Hindu counts the governor's rule and assembly dissolution as the main reasons for the defeat. It rues the decline in voter turnout - a measly 45% this time round. The Telegraph sees the defeat as the failure of a small-time politician - Laloo - who rose to power holding out a huge promise. It points out that law and order and keeping caste clashes in check need to be the top priorities, but hesitates to predict the impact on the centre. Elsewhere it calls the decision to stick with the RJD a fatal shift for the Congress, and notes that the poor also look for an alternative. Ashok Desai Malik of the Indian Express vents his anger against the Congress here, but for a more balanced view IE also carries an editorial from someone from the state itself, Prakash Jha, here.
