Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) working president Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said his party will contest the upcoming Kerala assembly polls as part of the ruling Left Democratic Front, which is locked in a contest with the Congress-led United Democratic Front.
The former Bihar deputy chief minister made the announcement after a meeting with legislators of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, hours ahead of voting for five Rajya Sabha seats in the state, one of which is being contested by his party.
“In Kerala, our party will contest the assembly polls as part of the LDF. Our party has had a presence in the Kerala assembly in the past. We hope to help the LDF retain power in the state,” Yadav said.
Yadav said, “In Kerala, our party will contest the assembly polls as part of the LDF. Our party has had a presence in the Kerala assembly in the past. We hope to help the LDF retain power in the state,\” Yadav said. The Congress and the CPI(M) are opponents in Kerala. Yet both work together in Bihar under the Mahagathbandhan.
The RJD has 25 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly. The party is also counting on 10 MLAs from other Mahagathbandhan partners. It is also looking to five MLAs of Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Support is expected from one MLA of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party as well.
Mahagathbandhan MLAs were asked to stay overnight at a hotel in Patna. MLAs of AIMIM and BSP were also invited for the night stay. The group was expected to travel together to the assembly on Monday. The plan was aimed at ensuring members remained present for voting.
Six candidates are contesting for the five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar. The RJD has fielded sitting MP Amarendra Dhari Singh. Five other candidates are from the ruling National Democratic Alliance.
The NDA list includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal United and MLA Nitin Nabin. During the build-up, rumours circulated about four of the Congress’s six MLAs being missing. The talk led to concern about possible cross-voting. Former state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh visited the hotel to review arrangements.
Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, \”All four MLAs are at my residence. There is no problem in the Mahagathbandhan, which is all set to win the Rajya Sabha seat. The NDA should worry about itself. We have learnt that 20 of their MLAs are traceless.\” The comments came as parties prepared for a tight contest in the Bihar assembly.
The RJD and allies focused on keeping their numbers intact until the vote. At the same time, Yadav’s Kerala announcement signalled a wider role for the RJD. The party said it would align with the LDF for the coming Kerala polls.
