JEDDAH: With the landslide election victory of “Mahagatbandhan” or Grand Alliance of secular parties in the Indian state of Bihar on Sunday, the debate whether secularism is secured in the country is back to life.

Expatriates in Saudi Arabia this journalist spoke to see the latest political development as a spoke in the wheel of the “hate chariot” launched by the Hindutva forces in India soon after the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power less than one-and-a-half year ago.

“The Modi-led evil forces, including BJP and RSS hoodlums, have got a drubbing at the hands of secular forces,” said Aslam Khan on the condition of keeping his professional details confidential.

Serajuddin Khan, a Human Resources & Operation manager at Teejan Group of C0, Jizan, said that this is a victory of tolerance over evil elements indulging in a hate campaign.”

Syed Nasir Khursheed, general secretary of Indian Engineers Forum in Jeddah, said: “The victory of the alliance led by Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar in Bihar shows that the country wants to reject communal forces. Here is a clear message that all communities want to live in harmony with each other.”

Writer and educationist Ozma Siddique said: “This victory was the need of the hour. Never has success been so sweet.” A public relations guy in Riyadh, Bakhtiyar Khan, termed the outcome as an “amazing victory for secular forces.”

The Indian community here consider the development as a trendsetter that, in times to come, they say, will outline the future line of action by the secular forces. Bakhtiyar, for instance is of the opinion that it would lead to a major realignment among secular forces at the national level.

Echoing his views, Serajuddin said it will have a great impact on national politics. But who will spearhead the secular campaign? Some expats believe Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar — are capable of carrying the march of secular forces beyond the borders of Bihar.

Majid Siddiqui, who is currently in Abha, said he is confident the two leaders can lead India on the national level.

“These two leaders will do wonders in national politics. Believe me,” said Serajuddin.

Bakhtiyar too said, “Nitish in particular has a clean image and has proven his worth as a man with development vision,” predicting him to be the next important thing in national politics by 2019.

Even social media is abuzz with the Bihar development, with Facebook and Twitter accounts being flooded with messages on the “historic” electoral results. More pressing issues like rising rate of inflation have taken a backseat.

A medical professional in Makkah said his Facebook account is inundated with “millions of messages” calling the BJP’s loss in Bihar as Modi’s defeat.