Saturday, June 14, 2014

JD(U)-RJD come together for Rajya Sabha polls?

The Janata Dal (United) has reached out to the RJD for support in the crucial by-poll for two Rajya Sabha seats

Reaching out to the RJD for support in the crucial by-poll for two Rajya Sabha seats, the JD(U) on June 13 praised Lalu Prasad and exuded confidence that he would never side with the BJP. “Lalu Prasad has been fighting against BJP and its communal politics... he will definitely not do anything that may help BJP in anyway,” said Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan of JD(U). “The RJD supremo will play a positive role in the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Bihar given his averseness to the BJP,” he said.

With battle lines drawn between the party and rebels who have propped up two Independent candidates against official nominees with the help of the BJP, the vote of the RJD would be critical to decide the result.
The RJD, which has 21 members in Legislative Assembly, whose effective strength at present is 232, holds the key to election on two seats of Upper House.

JD(U) has a strength of 117 including the Speaker. It enjoys the support of four Congress members, two Independents and one CPI candidate.

Facing stiff challenge to see JD(U) candidates through in the coming bypoll for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on June 14 appealed to arch rival and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Congress and CPI to make common cause to “foil the game plan of BJP to destabilise the government“.
“I have talked to Lalu Prasad, Congress state chief Ashok Choudhary, its legislature party leader Sadanand Singh and CPI secretary Rajendra Singh seeking their support for victory of two JD (U) candidates in the bypoll to Rajya Sabha in Bihar,” Mr. Kumar told reporters at the JD (U) headquarters.

The two JD(U) nominees — diplomat—politician Pawan Varma and Gulam Rasool Balyawi — are facing stiff challenge from independents — real estate baron Anil Sharma and Sabir Ali who are being backed by party rebels and BJP in the June 19 bypoll.

Kumar said he has appealed to the three secular parties to foil BJP’s “design of destabilising the Jitan Ram Manjhi government and thrust an early election in Bihar”.

“BJP is the main conspirator in the RS bypoll (for supporting rebellion within JD (U) and backing two Independents). It aims to destabilise the Jitan Ram Manjhi government and thrust an early election in Bihar,” he said.

Arithmetic is weighing against ruling JD (U) in the bypoll. In Bihar assembly, whose effective strength at present is 232 due to 11 vacancies, JD (U) has 117 MLAs including the speaker, BJP 84, RJD 21, Congress 4, Independents 5 and CPI 1.

The victory of JD (U) candidate was guaranteed but with a large number of its legislators turning rebels and supporting independents along with BJP, the vote of 21 RJD MLAs holds the key to the result in the bypoll. 

PTI

No comments: