Bihar elections: BJP vice prez Rajendra Singh joins Chirag Paswan-led LJP ahead of polls

Even as Lok Janshakti party has walked out of NDA and has decided to contest Bihar assembly elections solo while maintaining that its shares cordial relations with BJP, arm twisting seems to have begun. In a massive blow to BJP, its state unit Vice President Rajendra Singh and senior leer Usha Vidyarthi joined Chirag Paswan led party ahe of polls. Sources have told Republic World that in upcoming days, many or BJP leers will be joining LJP. 

This comes days after Chirag Paswan said that his party won't contest assembly polls under leership of Bihar's CM Nitish Kumar and BJP-JDU anunced ir seat-sharing deal. Chirag Paswan has defended his action to walk out of NDA and asserted that his decision is in view of "welfare of people of Bihar."

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LJP won't contest under CM Nitish

Earlier, LJP decided to contest Bihar polls separately owing to ideological differences with JD(U).  Jamui Lok Sabha MP cautioned people of Bihar against attempts to spre lie that LJP was going solo as a result of his political ambition. Out of NDA in Bihar, Chirag Paswan asserted on Tuesday that he enjoys "very cordial" relations with BJP and ted that he has firmly stood by prime minister since 2014 when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar h left alliance to protest against Narendra Modi's leership. Paswan also asserted that he has been working on his "Bihar first, Bihari first" nda for a long time and h informed BJP leership about his differences with Kumar-led government well in vance. He, however, refused to comment on claims about his tacit understanding with BJP in targeting JD(U), saying it is for saffron party to answer.

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Asked how he sees Lok Janshakti Party's and his relations with BJP after quitting National Democratic Alliance in state, Paswan said, "I have very cordial relations with BJP. I have said that we have bitterness with BJP." His far and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan underwent heart surgery in a Delhi hospital on Saturday and Home Minister Amit Shah paid a visit to him. 

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Bihar Assembly election

Bihar Assembly has a strength of 243 members out of which 38 seats are reserved for SC and two for ST candidates. In 2015 state polls, Mahagatbandhan comprising RJD, JD(U) and Congress won a whopping majority with 178 seats under leership of Nitish Kumar. On or hand,  BJP-led alliance won from only 58 constituencies. On July 26, 2017, Nitish Kumar stepped down as CM citing irreconcilable differences with RJD over corruption allegations against Tejashwi Yav and joined hands with its former ally BJP.

upcoming Assembly election will be held in 3 phases- October 28, vember 3 and vember 7. To decongest polling stations, voting time has been increased by one hour. Thus, people will be able to cast ir votes from 7 am to 6 pm barring for areas affected by Left-wing extremism.  counting of votes will take place on vember 10.

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