WINNER AND LOSER: JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav being greeted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after Mr. Yadav was elected JD(U) national president in Patna on Tuesday. (below) NDA convener George Fernandes, who lost the election, with his supporters in Patna on Tuesday. — Photos: Ranjeet Kumar, PTI

PATNA: In a day of dramatic developments, Janata Dal (United) parliamentary board chairman Sharad Yadav was on Tuesday elected party president, defeating the incumbent George Fernandes.

Supporters of Mr. Fernandes alleged that the voters' list had been rigged and many of them boycotted the election allowing Mr. Yadav to take the reins.

Mr. Yadav was declared elected as the party president with 413 votes as against the 25 polled by Mr. Fernandes. Ten votes were declared invalid and 123 registered voters did not exercise their franchise.

Mr. Fernandes arrived from New Delhi on Tuesday morning and drove straight to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence. After his meeting with Mr. Kumar, Mr. Fernandes drove to his hotel room. His aides said he would not attend the national council meeting.

The Sharad-Nitish faction held a meeting of the national executive, presided over by vice-president Ram Jiwan Singh, and replaced returning officer Anil Hegde with Shubash Chandra Shrivastava.

Mr. Hegde could not be contacted after he faxed a letter to Mr. Yadav on Monday night informing Mr. Yadav of his decision to postpone the election for the top post on account of shortcomings in the conduct of the poll.

Election held

When the meeting eventually started four hours behind schedule, party general secretary Shambhu Shrivastava said Mr. Hegde had exceeded his brief by postponing the election.

Supporters of Mr. Fernandes protested against the "isolation and humiliation of their leader". They charged that their names did not figure in the voters' list. They staged a walkout and boycotted the election.

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