The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal on Thursday improved its tally in the Bihar Legislative Council polls held for 24 seats on April 4. Out of the 24 seats, the BJP won in seven seats, the RJD in six, the JD(U) in five and the NDA ally Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) led by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras won one seat of Hajipur. Four Independents won from Nawada, Chhapra and Madhubani seats. Congress won one seat after the grand old party’s candidate from Begusarai seat, Rajiv Kumar Sinngh, emerged victorious.
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Out of the 24 seats, 13 were earlier held by the BJP, eight by the ruling ally Janata Dal (United), two by the RJD and one seat by the Congress.
In the NDA, the BJP had contested in 12 seats, the JD(U) in 11 while one seat was given to the RLJP. In the Opposition camp, the RJD had put up candidates in 23 seats, leaving one seat of Bhagalpur-Banka for the Communist Party of India (CPI). The Congress had contested in 16 seats in the Council poll.
RJD alleges irregularities
With the RJD winning six seats, the party is likely to retain the post of Leader of the Opposition for party leader Rabri Devi in the Council. A delegation of RJD leaders visited the State Election Commission office on Thursday to complain about alleged irregularities in counting of votes for Saharsha and Darbhanga seats. “The commission officials assured us that the counting will be done in a fair manner and no irregularity will be allowed”, said RJD spokesperson Bhai Birendra.
Meanwhile, State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal said, “The NDA has repeated its performance in the Council polls and will strive to improve its tally next time”. The NDA candidates won the polls from Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Samastipur, Sasaram, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Aurangabad and Sitamarhi. The RJD won from Patna, West Champaran, Gaya, Munger and Siwan. The three Independent candidates Sacchidanand Rai, Ashok Yadav and Ambika Gulab Yadav won the polls in Chhapra, Nawada and Madhubani.