Secular alliance failed! Lalu, Nitish could not open account for RJD, JD(U) in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Dec 24: The once dominant RJD and JD(U) drew blank in the 2014 Jharkhand Assembly elections. While Lalu Prasad's RJD had won seven and five seats in 2005 and 2009 Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) had six and two seats respectively in the previous two polls.

Despite the two former Bihar chief ministers pushing hard through election campaigns, RJD garnered just 3.1 per cent vote share (4,33,135 votes) and JD(U) managed only one per cent (1,33,823 votes) vote share in the just concluded polls that spanned over nearly four weeks with results being declared yesterday.

The two parties were nowhere near the BJP's share of 31.3 per cent (43,34,815 votes) which gave the saffron party 37 of the 81 seats - its best ever performance in the three elections in Jharkhand since it was created in 2000.

BJP, which had 30 seats in the 2005 and 18 in the 2009 Assembly polls, got a majority in an alliance with the AJSU party that won five seats in this elections, garnering 3.7 per cent (5,10,277) vote share.

An unwell Lalu Prasad Yadav extensively toured the RJD pockets in Palamau division and Godda areas addressing several election meetings. He even went to Sahibganj by train from Ranchi, an overnight journey, but failed to revive his once much sought after charisma.

RJD's state unit president Girinath Singh and prominent candidate Annapurna Devi failed in Garhwa and Kodarma constituencies, considered RJD strongholds.

PTI