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Bihar Political Drama: Ex-RJD Leader's Defection Amid Election Battle

Former RJD leader Suresh Mehta has dramatically switched sides to join the BJP just before Bihar's first phase polls. He expressed frustration about being consistently ignored and humiliated despite his loyalty to the RJD leadership. In a counter-move, the Grand Alliance welcomed sitting BJP MLA Lalan Paswan who resigned after being denied a ticket. This political musical chairs highlights the intense maneuvering happening as Bihar prepares for crucial assembly elections.

Key Points: Former RJD MLA Suresh Mehta Joins BJP Before Bihar Polls

  • Former RJD district president cites repeated humiliation as reason for joining BJP
  • Mehta claims credit for Grand Alliance's past Aurangabad district sweep
  • BJP MLA Lalan Paswan defects to RJD after being denied party ticket
  • RJD alleges BJP uses Dalits politically without ensuring rights representation
2 min read

Former RJD MLA joins BJP, a day before first phase poll in Bihar

Ex-RJD MLA Suresh Mehta defects to BJP citing humiliation, while BJP's Lalan Paswan joins RJD in counter-move ahead of Bihar assembly elections.

"I was repeatedly ignored and humiliated within the party - Suresh Mehta"

Patna, Nov 5

Congress candidate in the Aurangabad Sadar Assembly constituency, Anand Shankar, suffered a major setback after former RJD district president and ex-MLA Suresh Mehta resigned from all posts in the RJD and joined the BJP.

Mehta's switch is seen as a development that may impact a sizeable vote segment in the constituency and could trouble the Grand Alliance candidate.

Addressing a press conference, Mehta said he was repeatedly ignored and humiliated within the party.

He said that despite years of loyalty, he did not receive respect from the RJD leadership.

Mehta said that his mentor, Shakuni Chaudhary and senior NDA leaders continued to persuade him to join their side.

He claimed that when he was the RJD district president, the Grand Alliance won all six Assembly seats in Aurangabad district, and now he would work with full strength to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Vikram Narayan in Aurangabad Sadar.

Meanwhile, the Grand Alliance has also managed to engineer a counter-move.

Sitting BJP MLA from Bhagalpur's Pirpainti Assembly seat, Lalan Paswan, joined the RJD in Patna in the presence of Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi, after being denied a ticket by the BJP.

The RJD handed him party membership and the symbolic gamcha of the party.

RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed said Paswan's entry would strengthen the party's movement for social justice.

Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the BJP only uses Dalits politically but does not stand with them on issues of rights and representation.

Paswan, who created a controversy in 2020 after alleging that Lalu Prasad Yadav had telephoned him from jail, resigned from the BJP on October 16, stating that the party had no space left for outspoken Dalit leadership.

In Pirpainti, the RJD has fielded Ramvilas Paswan against the BJP's Murari Paswan, while Ghanshyam Das (Jan Suraj Party), Sunil Kumar Chaudhary (BSP) and Pritam Kumar (AAP) are also in the contest.

Voting in Pirpainti will take place on November 11 in the second phase.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Both parties are playing the same game - poaching each other's leaders. Mehta to BJP, Paswan to RJD. Ultimately, it's the voters who suffer when leaders change colors like chameleons. 🦎
R
Rohit P
Mehta's move could actually benefit BJP in Aurangabad. He has good ground connect and knows the local politics well. Smart move by BJP just before elections! 👍
A
Anjali F
Respectfully, I think both parties should focus more on developing Bihar rather than these political games. Infrastructure, education, healthcare - these are the real issues that matter to common people like us.
V
Vikram M
The gamcha ceremony for Paswan shows RJD's commitment to social justice. Meanwhile, BJP's strategy of welcoming experienced leaders shows their political acumen. Interesting battle in Bihar! 🗳️
M
Michael C
As an observer, I find Indian politics fascinating. The timing of these defections is clearly strategic - just before voting begins. This level of political maneuvering is quite sophisticated.

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