Tuesday, November 22 2005 14:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Janata Dal-United (JD-U)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine appeared set for a near sweep in the Bihar elections with the alliance winning 12 of the 13 seats for which results were declared and projected to get over 140 seats in the 243 seat Assembly.

Bringing the curtains down on the 15-year Lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi reign in the state, the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was leading in 144 seats while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress combine was ahead in 67 seats. RJD has won only one seat so far.

'Others' led in 32 constituencies with the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ceasing to be the kingmaker this time. His party was leading in only 17 constituencies against 29 seats won in the elections in March last.

While Ram Vilas' brother Pasupati Kumar Paras won from Alauli seat, Chief Minister Rabri Devi was involved in a sea-saw battle leading at one time and trailing at another in the Raghopur seat against JD(U)'s Satish Kumar.

The JD(U)-BJP combine, which was short of the halfway mark by 31 seats in the elections eight months ago, was leading in many of the RJD strongholds in various parts of the state.

Paswan virtually conceded defeat when he said the adverse results for the LJP and RJD, both constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, will have no negative impact on the UPA Government at the Centre.

Both Nitish Kumar, who is in Delhi savouring the victory, and Lalu Yadav in Patna, have not made any comments on the results.