Date:19/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101907431100.htm

National

Samata gearing for Bihar elections

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT 18 . The Samata Party leader and former Member of Parliament, H.P. Singh, today said that the by-election result in Madhepura in Bihar had shown that the people had lost faith in the Janata Dal (United) leadership and in the absence of a credible alternative, they were opting for Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal.

He was commenting on the victory of Pappu Yadav (RJD) who defeated JD(U) candidate, R.P. Yadav, by a handsome margin.

The seat was vacated by RJD President, Lalu Yadav, who preferred to retain the Chhapra seat.

Alternative to RJD

Mr. Singh said the Samata Party was gearing to present itself as an alternative to the RJD in the face of poor performance by the JD(U) in the Lok Sabha elections and in the recent by-election.

On the occasion it was announced that Balraj Kumar had been appointed the national vice-president of the party.