Ranjan Yadav faces second successive RS poll defeat

Patna, Mar 29 (UNI) LJP candidate Ranjan Prasad Yadav's attempts to enter the Rajya Sabha were again stymied as he lost his second election to the Upper House of Parliament today.

In 2003, he had contested as an Independent candidate but lost to his RJD rival.

Pipping Yadav's chances was RJD's Rajniti Prasad, a lawyer by profession, whose chances of winning had increased after party supremo and Rail Minister Lalu Prasad managed to swing the support of the BSP's four MLAs.

One of the BSP MLAs, Amarendra Kumar Pandey, who is lodged in jail, however, reportedly cross voted in the election, official sources said.

A candidate required 34 votes to romp home in the election.

Altogether 240 out of total 243 MLAs cast their votes. The Patna (West) seat is vacant following the death of sitting BJP MLA Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha. JD (U) MLA Shashi Kumar Rai could not cast his vote due to illness, while his party colleague Manoranjan Singh alias Dhumal Singh could not vote as he is in jail.

RJD's Prof Jabir Hussain, the chairman of Bihar Legislative Council and a noted litterateur, made his maiden entry into Upper House, while former Union Minister and BJP candidate Ravi Shanker Prasad was elected to Rajya Sabha for the second time.

Former RJD MLC Mahendra Sahni also made his maiden entry into the Rajya Sabha on the JD (U) ticket, while another victor, Mahendra Prasad alias ''King Mahendra'' has been a member of both houses of Parliament earlier.

Another victorious JD (U) candidate Ali Anwar was chairperson of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj and he had also campaigned for the JD (U) in the last state Assembly election.

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