New Delhi, Nov. 14 -- Ahead of Bihar election results on Friday, market watchers betting that an National Democratic Alliance (NDA) majority in the state would give Indian equities a lift.

After early trends showed the NDA inching well past the halfway mark, the markets held their ground at a time global markets were distinctly weak. Benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, were down around 0.27% in afternoon-a much milder correction compared to bourses elsewhere.

At 1.20pm, the NDA was well past the majority mark with leads in 200 seats in a 243-strong state assembly, while the Mahagathbandhan, the main opposition group, was ahead in 39.

Bihar's poll outcome was watched closely whether its impact would extend to the political balan...