Patna: In a major setback to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, his candidates including sister-in-law Mansa Devi suffered shock defeat in the Mayoral election of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) on September 7.

Mansa Devi and Laloo's candidate for Deputy Mayor Mumtaz Jehan lost to Krishna Murari Yadav and Santosh Mehta respectivly in a keenly contested election held on a non-party basis.

While Krishna Murari Yadav secured 28 votes, Mansa Devi got 26, while three votes in the corporation having a strength of 57 were declared invalid. Mehta pocketed 28 votes against 24 garnered by his rival Mumtaz Jehan for the post of Deputy Mayor with five votes declared invalid.

Notwithstanding the diligent efforts by RJD president on September 6 night to broker peace among the three squabbling siblings of his Chief Minister wife Rabri Devi, the stunning defeat of Mansa Devi, the wife of Rabri Devi's eldest of three brothers Prabhunath, is being attributed to the covert support extended to Krishna Murari Yadav by her other two brothers Sadhu and Subhash, who wanted their candidates as the Mayor.

Though Laloo Prasad Yadav apparently had succeeded in persuading Rabri's two brothers, Sadhu Yadav, an member of legislative assembly (MLA) and Subhash Yadav, member of legislative council (MLC) on Septemebr 6 night not to field their candidates Ashok Yadav and Sadhu Gope for the post of the Mayor, according to political observers, their supporters decided to plump for Krishna Murari yadav, also a RJD leader.

PTI