A day before the first phase of polling in Bihar, Congress candidate Anand Shankar faced a major setback in Aurangabad Sadar constituency as former RJD district president and ex-MLA Suresh Mehta joined the BJP.
Mehta resigned from all posts in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and pledged full support to the NDA.
Political observers expect Mehta’s switch to influence a significant section of voters and challenge the Grand Alliance candidate.
At a press conference, Mehta said the RJD leadership repeatedly ignored and humiliated him despite years of loyalty.
He stated that he did not receive the respect he deserved from party leaders.
Mehta revealed that his mentor, Shakuni Chaudhary and senior NDA leaders had long persuaded him to join their side.
He added that during his tenure as RJD district president, the Grand Alliance won all six Assembly seats in Aurangabad district.
Now, he said he would work with full strength to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Vikram Narayan in Aurangabad Sadar.
Meanwhile, the Grand Alliance executed a counter-move.
Lalan Paswan, a sitting BJP MLA from Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district, joined the RJD in Patna after being denied a party ticket.
He joined in the presence of Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi.
The RJD welcomed Paswan with party membership and its symbolic gamcha. RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said Paswan’s entry would strengthen the party’s social justice movement.
Tejashwi Yadav accused the BJP of using Dalits politically without supporting their rights or representation.
Lalan Paswan had earlier claimed in 2020 that Lalu Prasad Yadav called him from jail. He resigned from the BJP on October 16, saying the party had no space for outspoken Dalit leaders.
In Pirpainti, the RJD has fielded Ramvilas Paswan against the BJP’s Murari Paswan.
Ghanshyam Das (Jan Suraj Party), Sunil Kumar Chaudhary (BSP), and Pritam Kumar (AAP) are also contesting.
Voting in Pirpainti will be held on November 11 in the second phase.
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