Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi, Rabri Devi file papers for legislative council

PATNA, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and former chief minister Rabri Devi, were among eleven candidates who filed their nominations for the April 26 biennial elections to eleven legislative council seats today.

The chief minister who belongs to the JD(U) is not a member of the assembly and submitted his papers for the elections for a second consecutive term.

The deputy chief minister belonging to the BJP besides Rabri Devi, the RJD's official candidate, also submitted their papers.

Other JD(U) nominees to file papers for a second term were Agriculture minister Narendra Singh, Rural Works Department minister Bhim Singh, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh and party leader Upendra Prasad to returning officer, L K Jha.

April 16 is the last date of filing of nominations and April 26 the date of elections.

Chances of a contest to the eleven seats look remote at present.

Stating that the JD(U)-BJP alliance was working perfectly in Bihar, the chief minister said that the decision for the JD(U) to conest six seats leaving the rest for the BJP was unanimous.

"We have established a good tradition of alliance after the Rajya Sabha elections which reflected perfect understanding between the two parties, the deputy chief minister said.

Modi, however, evaded a direct reply to the BJP denying party nomination to council chairman Tarakant Jha. "It is for the central election commission to look into such a matter," he said.