JD (U) eyes Delhi, plans to contest civic body polls

Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United), plans to expand base and is eyeing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls in 2017. To trigger this expansion it has started mobilising Biharis residing in the national capital. “Statistics suggest that about one-third of Delhi population comprises people hailing from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. We meet regularly with their representatives,” said general secretary of JD (U) KC Tyagi to DNA.

Tyagi also said that the party has been trying to strengthen its base everywhere, though political experts believe that JD (U) plans to expand its foothold in as many states as possible before the 2019 general elections. “Our President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s public meetings in Delhi in the last few years have witnessed immense gatherings. While the meetings have been successful, the future ones will help determine people’s opinion of us,” he said. The feedback gathered will be based on whether the party will contest the MCD polls, explained Tyagi. He also added that the JD (U) had supported Aam Aadmi Party in the last assembly polls.

When asked about Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav ruling out an alliance for the UP polls, Tyagi said it was not possible for any single party to defeat the BJP in UP. “The polarisation on religious lines is even more in UP than what it was in Bihar a year ago. However, we will not take any initiative to form a coalition,” he said.