BJP surges ahead in Bihar Legislative Council election

PATNA: Opposition BJP was today way ahead of ruling JD(U)-RJD-Congress-NCP 'secular' alliance winning seven out of nine seats in the Legislative Council, results of which have been declared so far and its nominees are ahead in six other places.

Out of the 9 results declared, 7 has been won by BJP while JD(U) scored victory at two places, Election Commission said.

The polling had taken place for 24 seats of the Legislative Council from local bodies on July 7 last.

The biennial election to the Bihar Legislative Council from local authorities is considered as semi-final before crucial Assembly poll in September-October this year.

As per trends available, BJP nominees are ahead in six other places while its ally is ahead on one seat.

The Council poll is the first test of coming together of old rivals Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad to take on a resurging BJP. After days of haggling, Lalu Prasad had accepted Nitish Kumar as secular alliance candidate for Chief Ministership mainly due to Congress tilt towards Kumar.

Out of nine results declared by Election Commission BJP has won at Aurangabad, Rohtas-cum-Kaimur, Saran, Gopalganj, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Purnea-cum-Araria-cum Kishanganj.

Ruling JD(U) has won from CM's native Nalanda and Muzaffarpur.

As per trend available, there is bad news for Nitish Kumar party in Patna where RJD rebel Ritlal Yadav who is contesting as Independent is marching ahead of rivals.

BJP has won from Lalu Prasad's native Saran district from where saffron party Sachidanand Singh defeated JD(U) candidate and presently Deputy Chairman of Council Salim Parvez by a handsome margin of over 900 votes.

In Darbhanga, sitting RJD MLC Misrilal Yadav lost to BJP's Sunil Singh.

Of the 24 Legislative Council seats, 13 were with JD(U), BJP 5, RJD 3 and Independent 3.

As per seat-sharing arrangements in Secular alliance, JD(U) and RJD fielded candidates on 10 seats each while Congress put up its nominees at three places and NCP one.

In the NDA camp, BJP had fielded candidates at 18 places, LJP of Union minister Ramvilas Paswan 4 and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) of Union minister of State Upendra Kushwaha at two.