Bihar bypoll: RJD to field nominees on all three seats

“Taslimuddin’s son Sarfaraz Alam, who is presently JD (U) MLA, is likely to resign as legislator and may be fielded by the RJD in the Araria Lok Sabha bypoll”, a reliable source in the RJD told Deccan Herald.

A bypoll is due in Araria after the death of Alam’s father and veteran RJD MP, Md Taslimuddin.

Mr Taslimuddin had won the seat by a margin of more than two lakh votes, while the BJP and the JD (U) – which had fought separately – finished nearly neck and neck, occupying the second and the third positions, respectively, in the 2014 general elections.

Asked whether he has been promised a ticket by the RJD from Araria, Alam said “the decision shall be taken by the party”. Alam was suspended from JD (U) in January 2016 for allegedly abusing a couple in a drunken condition while travelling in Rajdhani Express train.

Soon after tendering his resignation as MLA, Sarfaraz met RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi at her residence.

According to leaders close to Alam, the JD-U ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest Araria bypoll and JD-U does not have guts to challenge it. But things have changed now. “Sarfaraz Alam’s resignation will have no impact on the party”, JDU spokesperson Sanjay Singh said.

RJD vice-president Tiwari said the party was open to all those who were uncomfortable in NDA. No longer does the chief minister enjoy an upperhand like he used to in the past.

However, soon after Alam resigned from the JD-U, Leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav in his tweet said one more legislator of Nitish Kumar had resigned and that more may follow the suit. “Tejashwi is a child right?” Despite Nitish Kumar having been keen on fielding a JD (U) leader in Araria, BJP reportedly wants to field senior leader and former Union minister Syed Shahanwaz Hussain from the seat.

Courtesy: 10000Couples