Sunday, February 27 2005 15:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Opposition NDA (National Democratic Alliance) today (Feb 27, 2005) looked set to emerge as the largest combine in Bihar winning 21 seats and leading in 73 others, while the ruling RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) seemed to be losing its grip on power following a fractured mandate.

Laloo Prasad's RJD alliance in power for a decade has managed to win 24 seats and was leading in 50 others in the results declared so far.

Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), which apparently spoiled the RJD's chances of retaining power, was emerging as kingmaker bagging three seats and leading in 19 others.

The fractured mandate has already prompted the RJD to send signals to Paswan for his crucial support in formation of the Government. But Paswan has rejected any deal with the RJD, preferring that the State should be put under Presidents Rule.

On the other hand, NDA has already laid claim with Arun Jaitley saying the verdict was clearly against the RJD and in favour of combine led by Nitish Kumar.

Expressing his satisfaction at the results, Kumar said, "People have given mandate to NDA as the largest combine and they want the RJD Government to go.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who was initially trailing behind her LJP rival Rajiv Ranjan at Raghopur, has bagged the seat by over 27,000 votes.

Assembly Speaker Sadanand Singh of the Congress has won the Kahalgaon seat.