Chapra: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav today (June 5, 2004) remained non-committal on whether he would retain the Chapra lok sabha seat but announced that his ministry was keen to implement a number of projects for the development of the constituency.

Addressing a public meeting organised to felicitate him for his victory, Yadav said, "Please don't pressurise and leave it to me to decide which seat (Chapra or Madhepura) I should retain.''

Yadav had won the elections from both Madhepura and Chapra seats. He defeated his nearest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rival and former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy by a margin of over 60,000 votes in Chapra.

In Madhepura, the RJD chief trounced his bete-noire and JD-U (Janata Dal-United) leader Sharad Yadav in the just-concluded elections.

Yadav, who arrived this afternoon from New Delhi by special train, told the gathering that his ministry would soon take steps for executing new rail projects for Chapra.

He said the survey work for the proposed rail line between Chapra-Garkha-Muzaffarpur would soon begin. Yadav said an overbridge would be constructed by the railway at Sara railway crossing in the town. Besides steps would also be take for doubling of rail line between Sonepur and Barabanki.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, State Ministers Udit Rai and Chandrika Yadav were present.

Earlier, he received his victory certificate from the returning officer for Chapra B Pradhan.