RJD to support Cong & JMM candidates in RS polls

RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday said his party would extend support to the candidates of Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the Rajya Sabha polls from two seats in Jharkhand.

The seats fell vacant due to the election of BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and rebel JD (U) leader Digvijay Singh's election to the Lok Sabha.

"We will support the nominees of Congress and JMM in the Rajya Sabha polls in Jharkhand", Prasad said.

While Congress has fielded Dheeraj Kumar Sahu, JMM has fielded Hemant Soren, the second son of Shibu Soren. The BJP has nominated Anup Agrawal and Ajay Maroo for elections to the two RS seats which is scheduled to be held on June 20.

Jharkhand assembly has a total strength of 82. But its effective strength has gone down to 73 due to the election of some legislators to the Lok Sabha. The assembly has one nominated member too who cannot vote in the election.

In the assembly, BJP leads the tally with 24 members in the house followed by JMM with 17 members, Congress with nine, RJD with seven, JD(U) with four and others having 12 members.

The two RS seats fell vacant due to the election of BJP heavyweight Yashwant Sinha and Singh, who was a former union minister, to the Lok Sabha. Singh had successfully contested as an independent after having denied JD (U) ticket.