Bihar CM to hold a rally in Mumbai on April 22, party leaders to travel across Maharashtra from April 10, Pavan Varma confirms the development.
In order to expand his party in Maharashtra, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to visit Mumbai next month. Kumar will hold his first political conference in Maharashtra on April 22 at NSE grounds during which state unit of Janata Dal (United) will be launched.
A large number of Biahris are expected to attend the rally to hear Kumar, say sources. To ensure that, JD (U) leaders from Bihar, such as Shyam Rajak, are set to visit state to generate the buzz among public, say party sources.
The Party's expansion plan comes at the time when socialist parties like SP and BSP failed to make inroads in Maharashtra and even major parties like Congress and NCP face tough time amid rise of saffron parties since 2014 general elections.
To start with, the party has bagged one Member of Legislative Council (MLC) in Maharashtra in its fold on Wednesday. MLC Kapil Patil had announced the merger of his party Lok Bharti with the JD(U) last month. Patil represents the teachers constituency. He is now a JD(U) MLC, Legislative Council chairman announced Wednesday.
Pavan Varma, Rajya Sabha MP and JD (U) Spokesperson, confirmed the development. Speaking with DNA over phone, Varma said,“We have got one MLC today in our party and our expansion plan is on cards. However, I can confirm the date of Kumar's Mumbai visit by night or tomorrow.”
Kapil Patil said Kumar’s rally is finalised. When asked about lack of political space in Maharashtra for socialist parties, Patil says, “Rise of BJP and Sena and fall of NCP and Congress has created that political space which JD (U) seeks to acquire.”
When asked how his party seeks to establish organisational network and get prominent faces, two basic needs for the success of any political party, Patil says people will come forward once Nitish Kumar announces his outfit in Maharashtra.
Political pundits don’t see much into JDU’s projection in the BJP-Sena ruled state and termed the move as political gimmick of Nitish Kumar. “Party neither has any prominent socialist face in Maharashtra nor any organisational set-up. They would meet the same fate in Maharashtra as the BSP," says an analyst.
Another observer said,“It's due to strong ground network that the Shiv Sena is winning Mumbai Municipal Corporation since three decades despite poor performance. Congress is unable to win elections despite being the oldest player as it lacks Sena-like organisational network."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Nitish Kumar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}