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Leaders switch loyalties as poll approaches
The political landscape in poll-bound Bihar is undergoing a churning process, with last-minute equations being worked out. The sitting Janata Dal (United) MP from Muzaffarpur, Captain Jainarain Prasad Nishad, and former Bihar Scheduled Caste Commission chairman Ramai Ram are seeking Congress tickets for their sons.
The political landscape in poll-bound Bihar is undergoing a churning process, with last-minute equations being worked out. The sitting Janata Dal (United) MP from Muzaffarpur, Captain Jainarain Prasad Nishad, and former Bihar Scheduled Caste Commission chairman Ramai Ram are seeking Congress tickets for their sons.
The two JD (U) leaders have written separate letters to Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik in this regard. Also on Saturday, senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Akhilesh Singh resigned from the party and is all set to join the Congress even as his party colleague, MP Umashankar Singh, raised the banner of revolt against Lalu Prasad, describing him as a “monarch”.
Congress managers are enthused with these developments. Having been out of power in Bihar since 1989, the party is looking at different strategies to emerge as a formidable force in the state.
As part of the “grand plan” formulated by general secretary Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has already decided to go it alone in the October-November assembly elections.
Announcing his decision to quit the RJD, former Union minister Akhilesh told reporters at Patna that both “Kushashan Babu (Lalu Prasad) and Sushshan Babu (Nitish Kumar) who were out to stifle the voice of forward castes. Thus, I decided to leave the RJD and join the Congress party, which gives due respect to political leaders irrespective of caste and creed”. Umashankar Singh has been unhappy with the inclusion of his bete noire Prabhunath Singh into the RJD.
“Lalu ji behaves like a monarch. Real workers should get respect. Those who are serving the party for long should be given tickets, but what is happening now is contrary to it. Moneybags are being preferred to loyal party workers,” Umashankar told reporters.
He also ruled out the possibility of quitting the RJD.
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