In a visible setback to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key MLA from his party, the JDU, resigned and joined the RJD. Moments after his shock resignation, Sarfaraz Alam, met the former Bihar chief minister, Rabri Devi, at her official residence.
A bypoll is due in Araria after the death of Alam’s father and veteran RJD MP, Md Taslimuddin. There are reports that Alam was aspiring for a ticket on the JDU ticket following the death of his father.
However, after meeting Rabri, Alam said that it was just a courtesy call and there was nothing more to it.
“It is certain that I will contest Araria bypoll but people of the constituency will decide from which party I will contest,” Alam was quoted by IANS. He added, “I have acted in line with the sentiments of people of my constituency.”
His resignation, however, prompted Yadav to take a dig at Kumar adding that this was just a beginning and one more JDU MLA had resigned.
He wrote, ” One more MLA of Nitish Kumar resigns from the JDU. Just wait and see how his party will break even more. Tejashwi is a child right?”
नीतीश कुमार के एक और MLA ने जदयू से दिया इस्तीफ़ा। इंतज़ार कीजिए अभी कितनी टूट और होगी।
तेजस्वी तो बच्चा है ना जी!
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) February 10, 2018
In another tweet, Yadav claimed that nobody will be allowed to contest in the Araria bypoll from the JDU since Kumar was under pressure from the BJP. He also added that the Centre’s Narendra Modi government had a ‘file of his corruption’ preventing him from functioning independently.
Meanwhile, JD-U spokesperson Ajay Alok said that Alam’s resignation was not at all a setback for the party.
According to leaders close to Alam, the JD-U ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest Araria bypoll and JD-U does not have guts to challenge it.
“Araria has been a stronghold of Sarfaraz’s father Taslimuddin for over three decades. He will have to contest the bypoll to protect his father political legacy. RJD has offered him his father’s seat,” a JDU leader was quoted by IANS.