Bihar: Race hots up for 2nd Rajya Sabha candidate of RJD

PATNA: RJD is yet to announce its two candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections as the CBI raids on party chief Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi’s residence and other locations related to his kin are likely to impact the selection process, sources said.
While the name of Lalu’s eldest daughter Misa Bharti is almost confirmed, there are many in the race for the second seat from the RJD quota against the five seats falling vacant from Bihar on July 7 this year. Among the names doing the rounds are Rustam Khan from Purnia and former Congress MLA Baba Siddiqui. Khan is a businessman.
A senior RJD leader said the party has decided to field someone from Bihar. If this criterion is followed, Khan can leave behind Siddiqui, who has close links with the Bollywood. “Rustam Khan is associated with the party since long and other party members will not have much objections,” said an RJD leader, adding any name from outside state will raise question and now the party may not take a risk about its image, especially after the CBI raids.
Siddiqui, however, is reportedly supported by late Shahabuddin’s family. Apart from Siddiqui, famous lawyer Kapil Sibbal’s name was also there. “Since the seat got vacant after Ram Jethmalani’s demise, Sibbal could have been the better replacement. Let the official announcement be made,” said a senior RJD leader. Now Sibbal’s name as the SP or Congress candidate from Uttar Pradesh has also started floating.
RJD state spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, “Lalu ji has been authorised to take the call. Let Tejashwi ji come back from London. The names will be announced after discussing with him.”