Bihar results point to changing equations
As predicted, the NDA emerged victorious on three seats while the UPA, including the LJP, clinched the other two seats in the biennial poll to the five Rajya Sabha seats held on Wednesday
By Ashok K Mishra, TNN |
PATNA: As predicted, the NDA emerged victorious on three seats while the UPA, including the LJP, clinched the other two seats in the biennial poll to the five Rajya Sabha seats held on Wednesday. The NDA also managed to wrap up one more seat in the by election necessitated by the death of the Rajya Sabha member Motiur Rahman(RJD).
Among the winners were CP Thakur (BJP), NK Singh and Shivanand Tiwari (both JD-U), union minister from RJD Premchand Gupta and Sabir Ali (LJP). The independent candidate Govind Pandey whose presence in the fray had forced the contest polled just one vote. Besides, the JD(U) nominee Ejaj Ali won the by election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Even though the electoral outing of the Rajya Sabha in Bihar ended on a predictable note, the run-up to the elections was marked by several twists. For the first time after the last Lok Sabha polls held in 2004, both the warring leaders of the UPA Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan - joined hands for the biennial poll for ensuring the victory of Mr Ali, the LJP nominee.
Initially, it was expected that the LJP instead of striking truce with the RJD will field its nominee with the support of the NDA, as was the case in the biennial poll to the Rajya Sabha in 2006. But it came as a big surprise when the LJP chief patched up with Mr Lalu Yadav just ahead of the biennial poll perhaps under the pressure of the Congress leadership.
The new-found bonhomie between the two UPA leaders has obviously raised the speculation of a possibile alliance for the Lok Sabha elections as well. At the same time, there are those who feel that it was only a temporary arrangement and Mr Paswan, sooner or later, will be inclined to resume his anti-Lalu rhetoric.
The biennial poll also took a toll on the Samajwadi Party whose two MLAs Deonath Yadav and Gopal Agrawal preferred to resign from the party instead of supporting the UPA nominees. They revolted against the party leadership which asked them to support the UPA. Instead, they openly came out in support of the NDA candidates. The BSP, however, supported the UPA in the biennial election.
Among the winners were CP Thakur (BJP), NK Singh and Shivanand Tiwari (both JD-U), union minister from RJD Premchand Gupta and Sabir Ali (LJP). The independent candidate Govind Pandey whose presence in the fray had forced the contest polled just one vote. Besides, the JD(U) nominee Ejaj Ali won the by election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Even though the electoral outing of the Rajya Sabha in Bihar ended on a predictable note, the run-up to the elections was marked by several twists. For the first time after the last Lok Sabha polls held in 2004, both the warring leaders of the UPA Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan - joined hands for the biennial poll for ensuring the victory of Mr Ali, the LJP nominee.
Initially, it was expected that the LJP instead of striking truce with the RJD will field its nominee with the support of the NDA, as was the case in the biennial poll to the Rajya Sabha in 2006. But it came as a big surprise when the LJP chief patched up with Mr Lalu Yadav just ahead of the biennial poll perhaps under the pressure of the Congress leadership.
The new-found bonhomie between the two UPA leaders has obviously raised the speculation of a possibile alliance for the Lok Sabha elections as well. At the same time, there are those who feel that it was only a temporary arrangement and Mr Paswan, sooner or later, will be inclined to resume his anti-Lalu rhetoric.
The biennial poll also took a toll on the Samajwadi Party whose two MLAs Deonath Yadav and Gopal Agrawal preferred to resign from the party instead of supporting the UPA nominees. They revolted against the party leadership which asked them to support the UPA. Instead, they openly came out in support of the NDA candidates. The BSP, however, supported the UPA in the biennial election.
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