In the NDA, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and junior Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), are headed for a face-off on Gaya teachers' constituency.
The otherwise monotonous legislative council election have taken an interesting turn in Bihar with political allies gearing up for a head-on confrontation on March 9, when four seats of the upper house will go to polls.
Election Commission of India had announced the polls to Bihar legislative council from Gaya graduates' constituency, Gaya teachers' constituency, Saran graduates' constituency and Kosi teachers' constituency on February 6, post which the alliances commenced seat-sharing talks. However, no consensus seems to have been reached, either in the BJP led NDA or in Nitish Kumar's Mahagathbandhan.
In the NDA, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and junior Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), are headed for a face-off on Gaya teachers' constituency. While sitting MLC Sanjiv Shyam Singh filed his nomination as an RLSP candidate on Wednesday, LJP has announced Prof DN Singh as the party's candidate from the same seat.
The LJP has accused BJP and RLSP of not adhering to the 'gathbandhan dharma'. "Our candidate will file his nomination on February 17," an LJP spokesperson said, even as the RLSP maintained that their nominee had the support of BJP and was the 'original' NDA candidate. A senior BJP leader said the issue will be solved through a dialogue.
Incumbent chairman of the council, Awadhesh Narain Singh, has filed his nomination from Gaya graduates' constituency on a BJP ticket where he is pitched against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) greenhorn Punit Kumar Singh. Janata Dal (United) sources said CM Nitish Kumar was not in favour of fielding a candidate against the outgoing chairman and his party may support Awadhesh instead of ally RJD's candidate, making it a gripping contest here.
However, the RJD and JD(U) fielding two candidates each for the March 9 polls, has left their alliance partner Congress sulking. Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Choudhary told media the matter has been brought in the knowledge of party president, who will take a decision on it. A Congress leaders said the party was mulling to field its own candidate on all seats now.
While February 20 is the last day for filing the nominations, the candidature can be taken back till February 23, after which a clearer picture is likely to emerge.
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