Lalu re-elected RJD chief

VARANASI: Railways Minister Lalu Prasad on Saturday was unanimously elected Rashtriya Janata Dal President for a sixth consecutive term.

Returning officer and former Bihar minister Ram Chandra Purve announced his election for another two-year term at the RJD's sixth national conference at Sarnath near here.

Prasad was congratulated by his wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, his ministerial colleagues at the Centre and other leaders present on the dais and given a rousing welcome by the 20,000 party leaders and workers attending the conference.

Purve said the Union Minister was the only candidate in the fray and his nomination papers were found valid during scrutiny on Thursday.

He said the RJD rank and file had full faith in Prasad's leadership in fulfilling the party's quest to become a mainstream political party and expansion throughout the country.