NDA gets absolute majority in Bihar

PTI

Patna, 24 November 2010: Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP alliance on Wednesday bagged 135 seats, 13 more than the simple majority, and was ahead in 70 other places in the 243-member Assembly.

On the other hand, the RJD-LJP alliance suffered major reverses bagging only ten seats and leading in 16 other places against its tally of 64 last time.

The Congress too suffered a setback winning three seats and leading in three compared to nine seats it had won in 2005.

The CPI won one seat and others 2.

From 143 seats in the last elections in 2005, the JD(U)-BJP alliance has put up an impressive performance across the State and may have even secured a considerable percentage of votes of the Muslim community. RJD and LJP together had 64 seats in the outgoing House. Congress had nine.

BJP was effusive in its praise for Mr. Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi with party chief Nitin Gadkari saying the results showed that the politics of 21st century is of politics of development and not that of caste.

His party leaders also saw the results as a rejection of family and dynasty politics, an obvious reference to RJD chief Mr. Lalu Prasad’s politics and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi who campaigned in the elections.

Congress praise for Nitish

Congress gave all credit to the Chief Minister for the ruling combine’s success in the elections and said law and order in the state improved under his regime.

AICC in charge for Bihar Mukul Wasnik said it was a “tough time” for party politics in the state and that his party will analyse why huge crowds in rallies of its top leaders could not translate into votes.

Rabri trailing in two seats

To add to RJD’s humilitation, former chief minister and Mr. Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi was trailing behind her nearest rivals in Raghopur and Sonepur, the two seats from where she was contesting.

The ruling coalition has won 14 of the 17 seats for which results have been declared. While RJD-LJP won one seat, indepenents have won two seats.