Sitting BJP MLA Lalan Kumar Joins RJD

• Sitting Pirpainti MLA Lalan Kumar quits BJP to join Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.
• His defection comes a day before the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections.
• Kumar was denied a ticket; BJP fielded Murari Paswan from Pirpainti.
• Bihar votes in two phases on November 6 and 11 across 243 constituencies.

GG News Bureau
Patna, 6th Nov: In a major political development amid Bihar Assembly elections, sitting BJP MLA from Pirpainti, Lalan Kumar, joined Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday.

Kumar’s defection comes barely a day before the first phase of polling on November 6, delivering a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Bhagalpur region. The Pirpainti seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes, is set to witness a keen triangular contest between the BJP, RJD, and Jan Suraaj Party.

The BJP has replaced Kumar with Murari Paswan as its candidate from Pirpainti, a decision that reportedly upset the sitting MLA. Expressing his disappointment, Kumar said he was inspired by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s vision for Bihar.

On his Facebook page, Kumar wrote, “May the caravan of the Rashtriya Janata Dal continue to grow. From today, I too have joined it. We have to make Bihar a state dedicated to Tejashwi. Tejashwi is the present, Tejashwi is the future. Jai Bhim.”

After formally joining the RJD, Kumar met Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna. The RJD, confirming his induction on X, posted: “Due to BJP’s lobbying, current MLA Shri Lalan Paswan left the BJP today and joined the RJD family.”

In Pirpainti, the main contest will be between BJP’s Murari Paswan and RJD’s Ram Vilash Paswan, while Ghanshyam Das from Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has also entered the fray.

The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases — November 6 and 11 — covering all 243 constituencies. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comprises the BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, includes the Congress, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party has announced candidates for all 243 seats, setting the stage for a multi-cornered battle in several constituencies.