Bihar: Four BJP turncoats in LJP’s first list

PATNA: Four heavyweight turncoats of BJP figured in the first list of 42 candidates of NDA ‘rebel’ LJP released on Thursday. LJP functionaries claimed that a majority of the 42 seats in the first list are those where JD (U) has fielded its candidates, making the contest tougher for the ruling JD(U) led by CM Nitish Kumar.
Releasing the list, LJP chief Chirag Paswan again gave a call that even a single vote for JD (U) will lead to “devastation” of Bihar. “You all need to win for a better future of Bihar. Giving votes to JD (U) means destroying Bihar. I am not able to be with you due to Papa’s (Ram Vilas Paswan) health. I will be there with you all as soon as his health improves,” Chirag tweeted. His father passed away later in the evening on Thursday.
LJP insiders claimed that Chirag, the 37-year-old national president of LJP, gave his nod to the first list of party’s candidates late on Wednesday evening, after returning to his New Delhi residence from AIIMS-Delhi, where his father and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan has been admitted for nearly two months due to cardiac ailments.
The four BJP heavyweights, who have been given tickets by LJP, include two-state vice-presidents of the saffron party—Rajendra Singh and Usha Vidyarthi. Vidyarthi is also a member of the Bihar State Women Commission. While Singh will contest the elections from Dinara assembly segment in Rohtas district, Vidyarthi has been fielded from Paliganj assembly segment, which she has represented twice in the past.
Both Paliganj and Dinara have gone to JD (U) under the seat-sharing arrangement between BJP, JD (U), HAM (S) and Mukesh Sahni-led Vikassheel Insaan Party.
The other two BJP turncoats, who figured in LJP’s first list are former Naukha MLA Rameshwar Chaurasiya and Jhajha MLA Ravindra Yadav. While Chaurasiya has been fielded from Sasaram, Yadav has been fielded from his sitting Jhajha seat.
All the 42 seats in LJP’s first list are among the 71 assembly segments going to polls in the first phase, for which the last date of filing nominations was Thursday.
In an official statement, LJP stated that party gave preference to upper caste as well as Dalit candidates in its list. It also claimed that altogether nine women have been given tickets, making 20% of the first list.
LJP national spokesperson Sanjay Saraf, on the other hand, claimed that majority of the candidates are party’s district presidents. “Though few heavyweights from other parties have been accommodated in our list we have given preference to district presidents and other workers, who have worked hard on the ground to expand the party. Also, caste combination has been given due consideration but development and our agenda of Bihar First, Bihari First was the benchmark in the selection of nominees,” Saraf said.
LJP also reiterated that it would form the next government in Bihar under the leadership of BJP. “We all believe in the charismatic leadership of PM Narendra Modi and we are certain that there will be a post-poll alliance with BJP to form the next government,” Saraf said.
BJP, on the other hand, has been maintaining that those who don’t accept the leadership of Nitish, cannot be part of NDA and such parties should not use either name or photograph of PM Modi in electioneering.