All 10 state legislative council candidates elected unopposed

Patna: All 10 candidates fielded by four political parties for an equal number of Bihar legislative council seats were elected unopposed on Thursday with no additional candidate entering the contest. The successful candidates were later handed their certificates of election.

The elections were held for nine seats due for biennial polls, while one seat was filled through a by-election following the vacancy created by former chief minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation from the Council. The BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas) and the RJD shared the seats.

Among those elected to six-year terms from the BJP were national BJP media coordinator Sanjay Mayukh, who secured a third term, Anil Kumar Thakur, Sheila Pandit and Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Kumar Singh. The JD(U) camp also celebrated the election of health minister Nishant Kumar, son of former chief minister Nitish Kumar.

“It is my good fortune that I have become member of the House to which my father belonged. I will implement my party’s policies,” Nishant told reporters.

Senior JD(U) minister Shrawan Kumar said, “The moment has thrown up a big moment for the party, since Nishant is its hope.”

The other JD(U) candidates elected for six-year terms were Bharti Mehta and Shivrani Devi, while Lalan Prasad won the by-election seat. “Our party leader Nitish Kumar has further strengthened women’s empowerment,” Bharti said.

RJD candidate Sunil Kumar Singh and Ashraf Ansari of the LJP (Ram Vilas) were also elected.

The poll process was preceded by political unease in the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), whose chief Upendra Kushwaha had expected the BJP to accommodate his son and panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash in the council polls. However, no seat was allotted to him.

In the RJD, Sunil’s nomination had disappointed another aspirant, Shivchandra Ram. The issue was later resolved after Sunil met him in hospital.

“I will fulfill all the responsibilities given to me. Even if our party’s strength in the council is 15 against 65 of the ruling alliance, we will not let down the party,” Sunil said, adding that he would place his certificate of victory at the feet of party chief Lalu Prasad.