The National Democratic Alliance on Saturday released its list of all 40 Lok Sabha candidates in Bihar. Disgruntled BJP Lok Sabha MP from Patna Sahib Shatrughan Sinha has been replaced by senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Sinha is the two-time sitting MP from Patna Sahib. But, he has been unhappy with the BJP for past couple of years. Sinha has been seen aligned with the opposition parties in targeting the Narendra Modi government over issues ranging from demonetisation, goods and services tax, farm distress, unemployment and allegations of corruption in Rafale deal.

Sinha had recently took part in two mega rallies organised by the opposition parties, first in Kolkata in January and then last month in New Delhi. Sinha attacked the Modi government over Rafale deal seeking clarification over the questions raised by the Congress-led opposition.

In the NDA list, Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh has been moved from his Navada Lok Sabha constituency to neighbouring Begusarai parliamentary seat. He had voiced concern over the ‘speculation’ that his constituency might be changed. Nawada Lok Sabha seat has gone to the LJP as part of the seat sharing arrangement.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh was named the NDA candidate from Purvi Champaran. He is the sitting MP from this constituency.

The list was released at a press conference attended by Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai, JD-U state president Vashisht Narayan Singh and LJP state unit head Pashupati Paras.

On March 17, the three NDA constituents announced the list of constituencies each party will contest in the Lok Sabha election. The BJP and JD-U are contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats each in Bihar. The LJP has got remaining six seats in the NDA seat-sharing arrangement.

First Published: Mar 23, 2019 11:41 IST