Zee Media Bureau
Patna: Despite his claims RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav could not stop BJP`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi`s march in Bihar. The NDA won more than 20 seats in Bihar, with RJD and its allies winning less than ten seats.
Lalu had said that he would stop Modi in Bihar as he did to his "guru" LK Advani. However, he could not even ensure victory of his wife and daughter.
Prasad`s wife Rabri Devi lost to BJP`s Rajiv Pratap Rudy by 40,948 votes at his home turf of Saran Lok Sabha seat.
Rudy secured 3,55,120 votes while Rabri Devi secured 3,14,172 votes.
JD(U) Saleem Parvez played spoilsport to RJD nominee by bagging 1,07,008 votes mostly that of minority Muslims.
Rabri Devi`s defeat flying on the face of her husband who represented the seat four times and never lost from here since 1977 when he first contested the seat to make a mark on national political scene.
Prasad, who was convicted in a fodder scam case and was disqualified from Lok Sabha, had chosen his wife to represent him on the home turf but could not succeed in the mission. To hand over the mantle to Rabri Devi, Prasad had also enacted a "Jaimal" (exchange of garlands during marriage) before public to play up to their sentiments.
Even before Prasad could cope up with humiliation at Saran, came the news of defeat of his daughter Misa Bharti at Patliputra seat in the hands of his long time close associate Ramkripal Yadav. Yadav bagged 3,83,262 votes while Misa Bharti secured 3,42,940 votes thus winning the seat by 40,322 votes. Sitting JD(U) MP Ranjan Yadav managed to get 97228 votes.
To ensure victory of daughter, Lalu Prasad even visited house of notorious criminal Ritlal Yadav and made him party General Secretary. But, a strong "Modi wave" watered down all his efforts.
Even though he has some laugh over defeat of his rival Sharad Yadav in the hands of his party`s candidate Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, but defeat of wife and daughter killed all the joy.
Prasad`s key associate and former Union Minister Raghubansh Prasad was also faced with a sure defeat at Vaishali seat in the hands of LJP Rama Singh.
With Assembly elections scheduled in Bihar next year, it remains to be seen whether Lalu can make a comeback and whether he can take on the BJP and the JD(U).
