POLITICS

Blow for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as JD(U) MLA quits to contest Araria LS bypoll on RJD ticket

Sarfaraz Alam, who will contest the Araria bypoll necessitated by the death of his father, RJD MP Mohd Taslimuddin, says his decision to quit JD(U) was in line with sentiments of people of Araria

Photos by AP Dube, Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Photos by AP Dube, Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images File photos of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav (left) and JD(U) president, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

In a blow to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a legislator of his party Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Sarfaraz Alam on Saturday resigned ahead of the Araria Lok Sabha bypoll next month. Alam is the JD(U) MLA from Jokihat in Araria district of Bihar. He was considered to be an aspirant to contest the Araria bypoll on a JD(U) ticket, that was vacated following the death of his father Mohammad Taslimuddin, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP.

“It is a set back for Nitish Kumar. Congress and RJD will fight together in Araria,” said Shivanand Tiwari, vice president, RJD. "JD(U) assured Alam they will give him the ticket for the byelection but the discontent, especially among leaders coming from minority community,  is running so high that no one wants stay with the JD(U) anymore."

While the development may not come as a surprise to many considering that RJD is the party of Alam’s father, behind the scenes a lot of attempts had been made to dissuade Alam from leaving the JD(U). Alam got many calls from top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including from PM Narendra Modi's office, claimed a senior RJD leader on the condition of anonymity. Sarfaraz has also made similar claims, saying that he was called by top BJP leaders, persuading him to not leave JD(U).

"It is certain that I will contest Araria bypoll but people of the constituency will decide from which party I will contest," Alam told the media. He said he resigned due to pressure from people. "I have acted in line with the sentiments of people of my constituency."

Soon after he resigned, Alam met Rabri Devi, former Chief Minister and wife of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav at her official residence 10, Circular Road in Patna. After meeting her, Alam said it was just a courtesy call and there was nothing more to it.

However, soon after Alam resigned from the JD(U), Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in a tweet said one more legislator of Nitish Kumar had resigned and that more may follow suit.

Published: 10 Feb 2018, 6:37 PM IST

JD(U), on the other hand, claimed that the seat belongs to RJD and that is why they would not contest. "We will not field our candidate," said Neeraj Singh, JD(U) Bihar spokesperson.

According to leaders close to Alam, JD(U)’s ally BJP will contest the Araria bypoll and JD(U) does not have guts to challenge this.

In 2016, Alam hit the headlines as he was suspended from the JD-U for allegedly misbehaving with a couple on a running train. Later, he was even arrested but released on bail.

Also read: BJP makes Nitish Kumar it’s junior ally in Bihar

Published: 10 Feb 2018, 6:37 PM IST

With IANS inputs.

Published: 10 Feb 2018, 6:37 PM IST

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Published: 10 Feb 2018, 6:37 PM IST