Lok Sabha Elections 2019 | CPI asks Tejashwi Yadav to ‘retire’ RJD’s Begusarai candidate in favour of Kanhaiya Kumar

Begusarai is among the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling would be held on April 29. The other seats are Darbhanga, Ujjiarpur, Samastipur (SC) and Munger.

Five days ahead of polling in Begusarai scheduled for April 29, the CPI on Wednesday appealed to RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to “retire” his party’s candidate Tanveer Hassan so that its own candidate Kanhaiya Kumar romps home with a thumping win.

Rashtriya Janta Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav (C) with Hindustani Awam Morcha -Secular chief Jitan Ram Manjhi (R) and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha during a press conference on their grand alliance at RJD office in Patna on Monday, April 22, 2019. (ANI)

“Now, Tanveer is not in the contest. The situation has changed totally. There is a straight fight between BJP’s Giriraj Singh and CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar,” claimed CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy.

Begusarai is among the five constituencies, the other four being Darbhanga, Ujjiarpur, Samastipur (SC) and Munger, where polling would be held on April 29.

The constituency is witnessing a triangular fight among BJP’s Giriraj Singh, Tanveer Hassan and Kanhaiya Kumar.

“Since 2014, the situation has changed a lot. Voters cutting across caste and religion are supporting Kanhaiya. If Tanveer freezes his candidature, the margin of Kanhaiya’s victory will increase,” Reddy said while addressing a press conference in Patna.

“However, now Tanveer should seek votes for Kanhaiya as his position is sliding down,” he said.

Binoy Visvam, national secretary CPI and Rajya Sabha member, who was also present at the press conference, said the party would support the Left candidates and GA nominees in seats in Bihar where it’s not contesting.

The CPI (ML) is contesting from Ara, Siwan, Karakat and Jehanabad, while the CPI is contesting from East Champaran and Begusarai.