Imphal, Feb 27 (IANS) In a major surprise, two candidates of Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won assembly elections Tuesday in Manipur, where the ruling Congress was marginally ahead in the race for power.
RJD's T. Haokip won the Chandel seat and another candidate Ngursanglur bagged the Tipaimukh seat.
Of the eight results declared, RJD and Congress won two each, with independent candidates bagging three seats. A Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate won from Khetrigao.
The Congress is leading in nine of the 20 seats for which trends were available at midday Tuesday. The main rival Manipur People's Party (MPP) is yet to open its account.
Counting for 60 assembly seats in Manipur is underway in 12 counting centres. The Congress and NCP were allies in the last assembly. This is the first time RJD has won in Manipur.