Major setback for RJD in Bihar as five of its MLCs join JD(U)

PATNA: Bihar's main opposition party RJD on Tuesday suffered a major setback before the assembly elections after five of its MLCs resigned and merged with the ruling JD(U), following which former chief minister Rabri Devi also lost the chair of the opposition leader in Vidhan Parishad.
Bihar Vidhan Parishad acting secretary Vinod Kumar said that the five MLCs had submitted a letter to JD (U)’s chief whip Reena Devi informing her about their decision to join the ruling party. The chief whip has referred the letter to council’s acting chairman Awdhesh Narayan Singh for necessary formalities.
The five MLCs - Sanjay Prasad, Radha Charan Sah, Dilip Rai, Qamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh - have now been recognised by the acting chairman as JD(U) members.
RJD, which had eight members in the upper house, is now left with three, including Rabri Dev.
Even party stalwart and one of its founding members Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has also resigned from the post of vice-president.