Beacon trouble for Nitish, Sharad Yadav

JD(U) leaders and Union ministers Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav violated the model code on Sunday by hopping onto party colleague and state Energy Minister Lalchand Mahato’s beacon-fitted car at the Ranchi airport to reach Jaipal Singh stadium, for a rally. ‘‘We didn’t do it deliberately and as such should be excused,’’ Nitish later said. Hours later, a dais at Gandhi Maidan in Gaya collapsed as Nitish stepped on it to address the ‘Dalit Chetna’ rally. The stage fell flat as a large number of party workers trooped after their leaders onto it. The leaders escaped unhurt.