The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted defeat for his governing BJP party in a key regional election in Bihar state.

The BJP is losing to an alliance of parties linked to India's main opposition Congress party.

Modi won a convincing victory in last year's national elections, but this poll was seen as a referendum on his economic reform programme.

This defeat is a major setback, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi.

(BBC)