Bypoll loss won't impact NDA: Nitish

The Bihar CM criticised RJD for acting in a pompous manner after retaining Maharajganj seat

Dismissing rumours of cracks within NDA on the defeat of JD(U) candidate in Maharajganj by-poll, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the loss would have no adverse impact on the alliance.

He also downplayed his party's crushing defeat in the bypoll and criticised RJD for acting in a pompous manner after retaining the seat.

"Our alliance is intact...Members of coalition worked together in the Maharajganj by-election," Kumar told reporters at Patna Airport on return from Delhi.

"NDA workers laboured hard in Maharajganj bypoll," he said refuting any chink in the coalition.

The defeated JD(U) candidate in Maharajganj P K Shahi had said yesterday that there was lack of enthusiasm among some NDA workers besides lack of poll management which cost the poll.

This set tongues wagging that BJP workers did not work hard for victory of Shahi due to JD(U)'s opposition to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi which has resulted in bickering among leaders of the two NDA partners.

Nitish Kumar is chairman of NDA in Bihar and BJP leader and minister Nand Kishore Yadav is the convenor.

Criticising RJD for acting in a pompous manner after retaining the seat, Kumar said, "This is not the defeat of JD(U) in the Maharajganj elections.

"This was not our seat. This seat belonged to RJD and RJD won. You can assess the mood and temperament of the RJD by the manner in which they are behaving after their victory," he said.

The JD(U) leader said his party has been regularly winning elections but has never been pompous, unlike RJD.

"If we have not been able to win in Maharajganj, there is no issue about it," he said.

On RJD President Lalu Prasad taking potshot at him on the defeat, Kumar said, "Let RJD be on cloud nine...This jubilation is short lived."

Seeking to take virtue out of the defeat, he said, "Though we lost, the vote percentage of JD(U) has increased in the bypoll from that in last general election and assembly elections in 2010."

The CM said that the JD(U) had won only 5 seats out of 18 Assembly seats in by-elections in 2009. But, the people voted JD(U) and BJP to a record victory in 2010 Assembly polls and RJD faced humiliating defeat.