NDA's strategy paves way for LJP candidate to RS

Patna, Mar 25 (UNI) The NDA's decision not to cast its surplus votes to any of the Rajya Sabha candidates has paved way for LJP candidate Sabir Ali.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told UNI here today that the NDA MLAs would vote for JD(U) candidates Shivanand Tiwari and N K Singh and BJP's Dr C P Thakur.

He said the NDA has decided to exercise their franchise only in favour of their candidates during the biennial polls tomorrow for five seats to the Upper House.

Each candidate has to score 41 votes of first preference to get a seat in Rajya Sabha.

All NDA candidates are set to make an ''hassle free'' entry into the Upper House, Mr Kumar said adding that NDA has 143 votes and 123 votes are required to win.

Meanwhile, two MLAs of Samajwadi Party have decided to vote in favour of the NDA candidates, he informed.

The UPA had renominated Union Minister Premchand Gupta as RJD's candidate while Sabir Ali is trying his political luck in the electoral battle from the LJP fold.

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