Date:27/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/27/stories/2008062755401500.htm

National

Rudy wins Rajya Sabha by-election

K. Balchand

Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar offering sweets to BJP leader Rajeev Pratap Rudy in Patna after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in by-election on Thursday.

PATNA: Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy was elected to the Rajya Sabha in the by-election held on Thursday to fill the vacancy caused by the disqualification of BJP member Jai Narain Nishad.

Mr. Rudy defeated an independent candidate by a handsome margin with most other parties showing no interest in the by-election.

Polls 148 against six

Mr. Rudy polled 148 votes while his rival S.S. Nishad could get just six votes.

Earlier, the Patna High Court gave the green signal for the by-election after rejecting the petition of Captain Nishad who sought a stay on it until disposal of his petition challenging his disqualification in April 2008.