LJP candidate blames NDA, Lalu for defeat in RS election

Patna, Mar 30 (UNI) LJP vice-president Ranjan Prasad Yadav today attributed his defeat in the Rajya Sabha election to a ''covert gameplan'' of the NDA as well as RJD Chief Lalu Prasad.

Mr Yadav told UNI here that both the NDA and the RJD were ''interested'' in victory of their own candidates only and hence both of them entered into a ''covert'' understanding.

He claimed that neither he nor his party ever sought support of the NDA in the Rajya Sabha election but the alliance 'misled' the people by claiming that the 'surplus NDA' votes would go in his (Ranjan) favour.

The fact remained that the NDA had no 'surplus' votes in backdrop of the 'inability' the few of its few MLAs to cast votes in this election.

The LJP-leader also rejected the RJD chief's contention that he was a BJP sponsored candidate in the RS election, observing that in addition to LJP votes, MLAs of CPI, CPI (ML), BSP, NCP and SP also cast their votes in his favour. He said the 'scattered' secular forces had a chance to unite in the RS election and the 'new political combination' would play a vital role both inside and outside the Assembly in the days to come.

Mr Yadav alleged that the 11 Independent members of the state assembly were misled both by the RJD chief and the NDA and became successful in winning support of six and five independents respectively. He said his party would maintain equidistance from both the NDA and the RJD in future.

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