NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

NDA legislators elect Nitish Kumar as their leader

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar was today formally elected leader of the National Democratic Alliance's legislature party in Bihar.

The legislature party meeting, held at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party politician Ganga Prasad, Member of the Bihar Legislative Council, was attended by a galaxy of NDA politicians, including Defence Minister George Fernandes, Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav, Telecommunications Minister Ramvilas Paswan and BJP vice-president Kailashpati Mishra.

Sushil Modi, leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly, proposed Nitish Kumar's name. As no other name came up for discussion, Kumar was elected unopposed to loud cheers and applause.

Earlier, Governor Vinod Chandra Pandey asked both Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Kumar not to stake their claims to form the government as the Raj Bhawan had not received the formal list of victorious candidates from the Election Commission. The commission is to issue the notification constituting the new assembly on Wednesday.

But with Kumar's arrival in Patna, political activity increased. Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav said he had had a telephonic conversation with the governor this morning.

Meanwhile, the RJD insisted the NDA had not won 122 seats, but only 110, as 12 of those who had won were rebels who had contested on the electoral symbols of alliance partners. "They were expelled from the NDA. The NDA even issued newspaper advertisements in this regard. Then how is it that they are counted as their candidates," asked Shivanand Tiwary, RJD spokesman.

Tiwary told reporters he had faxed a message to the Election Commission in this regard.

On the other hand, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibu Soren made it clear that his party would support only that combination which supports the cause of a new Jharkhand state.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report