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Published 17:40 IST, March 24th 2019

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 | Snubbed by the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar, CPI fields Kanhaiya Kumar from Begusarai seat

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has confirmed to field former JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar from the Begusarai seat in Bihar for the upcoming General Elections.

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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The Communist Party of India (CPI) has confirmed to field former JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar from the Begusarai seat in Bihar for the upcoming General Elections.

This political developments comes a day after the Mahagatbandhan excluded the Left from the seat-sharing formula in the state. 

In Begusarai, a stronghold of the CPI, Kumar will be facing BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh whose Nawada seat went to NDA ally LJP. 

Speaking over this, Kumar stated that he could take the voice of the youth 'against the extremist thinking' and also said that the party will support the Mahagatbandhan.

WATCH | PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti Backs Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid In JNU Sedition Case, Compares Them To Afzal Guru

He said, "I will take the youth voice in Parliament against the extremist thinking as one of Giriraj Singh. As the party's stand, we will support Mahagatbandhan where we are not in the fray."

He further lashed out at his BJP contender and Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing agrarian distress. 

He said, "People of Begusarai are watching Giriraj, he is the one who is rejecting Begasurai. Why will people accept him? Why are 111 farmers filing nomination against the Prime Minister. This shows the current state, they want to raise their voice and hence they are doing so." 

The opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' on Friday announced its seat-sharing formula for the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, half of which will be fought by the RJD and nine by the Congress.

Announcement of the seat-sharing formula by the grand alliance had evoked resentment from CPI secretary general Sudhakar Reddy on Friday. 

"We had an understanding with Lalu Prasad Yadav, but he is in jail. So, I don't know how things have been conveyed to his son (Tejashwi Yadav). He had agreed for six seats including Begusarai and Madhubani," Reddy had said.

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Updated 17:58 IST, March 24th 2019

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