Big blow to Lalu’s RJD ahead of Bihar elections: 5 MLCs jump ship, join Nitish Kumar’s party

New Delhi: In a major blow to Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 5 sitting MLCs today quit the party and switched to Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United). The development comes just ahead of Legislative Council elections in Bihar. Assembly polls are also scheduled in October-November, this year.

The RJD, which has eight MLCs, is now left with only three MLCs. The MLCs who defected to JD(U) are Radha Charan Shah, Sanjay Prasad, Dilip Rai, Md Kamar Alam and Ranvijay Kumar Singh.

JD (U) leader, Rajiv Ranjan Singh welcomed the five members to the party. He said, “We welcome them to the family.”

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, one of the founding members of the opposition party and also its national vice president, resigned from the post citing displeasure over the functioning of the party.

Radha Charan Shah said that he decided to join JD (U) as he admired the principles of Nitish Kumar.

RJD hit by defections as 5 MLCs cross over to rival JD(U)

“There is no issue with the RJD. I have joined the JD (U) because I liked the principles and thoughts of Nitish Ji,” Shah said.

JD (U) leader Ramchandra Prasad Singh said that the party welcomes the five MLC members and their presence in the party will make it strong.

“We welcome all of them as they have joined the party by their own will and it will make the JD (U) strong. The JD (U) today announced three name for MLC candidate including Gulam Gaus, Kumud Verma, Bhism Sahni,” Singh said.

MLC Dilip Rai said that he was impressed with the development work in Bihar by Nitish government thus, joined the party.

“I am impressed with the development in the sector of medical, agriculture and electricity by the government and joined the party. I don’t want any post and whatever work the party will give I will do it,” Rai said.