'Secular', NDA combine bag two seats each in LC polls

The ruling JD(U)-RJD-Congress-NCP 'secular' alliance and rival NDA were locked in a fight capturing two seats each as counting to 24 seats of Bihar Legislative Council polls entered its final phases.

The NDA was the first to open the account in the Council polls touted as 'semi-final' before the crucial Assembly elections scheduled later this year registering a win from Saran constituency where BJP candidate Sachidananda Rai defeated his rivals.

Bihar Additional Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R Lakshmanan said, "The BJP candidate from Saran has won as per our information. They will now apply for Election Commission (EC) certificate after which an official announcement will be made."

In the neck-to-neck fight RJD candidate Subodh Kumar Rai emerged victorious from the Vaishali constituency having defeated LJP candidate Ajay Kushwaha.

Results of two more seats were officially confirmed in which again the two principal rivals secured one each.

While the JD (U) candidate from Nalanda, Reena Devi scored a win over her nearest rival Dr. Suman alias Ranjeet Don fielded by the LJP, the NDA candidate from Aurangabad, Rajan Singh emreged victorius from that seat.

Among the counting trends received so far, the ruling secular alliance was leading in seven constituencies, while NDA was leading in five.

In a surprised trend, jailed gangster Ritlal Yadav was leading in the counting of votes from Patna Council seat over his closest rivals from JD(U) and BJP.

Counting of votes to the 24 seats were taking place amid tight security.