Politics, back to student days

Two years later, Laloo hit back, tying up with the ABVP. The combined ‘‘opposition’’ defeated the Congress nominees and, in 1973, Laloo became president of the PUSU. His general secretary was Sushil Modi, while Ravi Shankar Prasad was elected joint secretary. Both are now senior BJP leaders. In 1973 too, the Patna Engineering College Students’ Union threw up a backward caste president — Nitish Kumar. Nitish and Laloo became close friends. In 2005, of course, it’s another story.

Gujarat ‘victorious’ in Bihar: Modi
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat ‘‘emerged victorious’’ in the Bihar Assembly elections as those who used the Godhra issue to woo voters have been taught a lesson, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said today. ‘‘Those who humiliated Gujarat during the elections (campaigning) have been taught a lesson by the people of Bihar,’’ he said without naming any political party or leader while reacting to the outcome of the Assembly polls in Bihar. ‘‘I congratulate them for this result.’’

BCCI chief ready to handle politics
CHANDIGARH: BCCI president Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who won the Haryana Assembly election from Mundhal Khurd constituency, said he could handle both politics and cricket with equal ease. Mahendra, son of former Haryana chief minister Bansi Lal, contested as a Congress candidate. Asked what will be his priorities now, he said: ‘‘Both cricket and my constituency are high on my agenda’’.

NDA unexpectedly good, says Mamata
KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee described the NDA’s performance in the Bihar and Jharkhand elections as ‘‘unexpectedly good’’. She also sought to underplay the Congress’ landslide victory in Haryana. ‘‘Even if Congress has won in Haryana, it is a small state, but the NDA’s performance in both Bihar and Jharkhand was unexpectedly good,’’ she said, adding, ‘‘If such a change takes place in Bihar today, why not in West Bengal next year?’’

Triumphant Independent roughed up
CHAPRA: Independent candidate Lalbabu Rai, who won the Marhaura Assembly seat in Saran district, was injured today when unidentified persons showered blows on him outside the counting centre. Rai wrested the seat from Yaduvanshi Rai of the RJD. This Assembly seat falls within the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency, represented by party chief and railway minister Lalu Prasad. Later in the day, Rai was provided security.

‘Misunderstanding led to bad show’
CHENNAI: Misunderstanding among the UPA constituents in Bihar was the main reason for the fractured verdict in the Assembly elections, DMK President M Karunanidhi said today. The misunderstanding, he said, might have arisen due to the stand taken by the Congress high command or the Bihar Congress leadership. The DMK chief said he would have spoken to the UPA partners to resolve the misunderstanding but could not travel due to ill-health.

— ENS & PTI