Paswan loses as NDA takes rapid strides in Bihar

PATNA: Bihar's ruling NDA took rapid strides mopping up 12 of the 13 seats, results of which were declared so far, and was ahead in 21 others as the Fourth Front suffered major reverses.

Of the 13 seats results of which were declared so far, JD(U) won eight and BJP four, while one seat went to RJD.

LJP President Ramvilas Paswan suffered a shock defeat in Hajipur, the seat which had returned him triumphant seven times in 1977, 1980, 1989, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He had won from Rosera in 1991.

Ramsunder Das, the octogenarian former chief minister, who was pulled out of political oblivion to be fielded against Paswan in the dalit leader's pocket borough, humbled his towering adversary by a margin of ove 37,000 votes.

NDA convenor and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav won the Madhepura seat for a fourth time, defeating RJD's Ravindra Charan Yadav by over 1.68 Lakh votes.

JD(U)'s Sushil Kumar Singh beat Shakeel Ahmed Khan of the RJD by over 62,000 votes in Aurangabad where Congress candidate and former Delhi police commissioner Nikhil Kumar finished a poor third. Kumar was the sitting MP from Aurangabad.

The JD(U) also won Sitamarhi, Supaul, Khagaria, Jehanabad and Jamui.