Published 20:09 IST, February 22nd 2021
Woes for Chirag Paswan continue as Bihar's lone LJP MLC Nutan Singh joins BJP
In another blow for Chirag Paswan, Lok Janshakti Party's lone MLC Nutan Singh joined BJP at its party headquarters in Patna. Her husband is also a part of BJP.
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In ar blow for Chirag Paswan on Monday, LJP's lone MLC Nutan Singh joined BJP at its party headquarters in Patna. Attributing BJP switch to her husband Neeraj Kumar Singh's presence in JP Nadda-led party, Nutan Singh expressed happiness that both of m can work toger. This development comes days after 200 disgruntled LJP workers and leaders joined JD(U). re was furr unease in LJP camp after its only MLA Raj Kumar Singh and Nawada MP Chandan Kumar separately called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
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LJP dents JD(U)'s prospects in Bihar
An NDA ally since 2014, LJP decided to contest 2020 Bihar Assembly polls separately owing to ideological differences with JD(U). During election campaign, he repeatedly asserted that LJP and BJP will form next government in Bihar. Reiterating his affection for PM, LJP president said that he was PM's Hanuman. This set rumour mills abuzz about BJP's alleged tacit understanding with LJP to marginalise JD(U) within alliance. Ultimately, Bihar polls turned out to be a nail-biting contest with NDA emerging victorious in 125 seats as against that of 110 seats won by Mahagatbandhan.
BJP, RJD, JD(U), Congress won 74, 75, 43 and 19 seats respectively. With 4 seats each, VIP and HAM (S) had a crucial role to play in ruling alliance breaching majority mark. Similarly, AIMIM made a huge mark in Bihar politics as 5 of its candidates were declared winners. While LJP mand to bag just one seat with a vote share of 5.66%, a closer look at its performance suggests that it foiled JD(U)'s chances of emerging as single-largest party. As per EC data, LJP secured more votes than winning party's victory margin over JD(U) in aforesaid 32 constituencies. This essentially implies that JD(U)'s chances of potentially winning se seats would have increased manifold if LJP remained a part of NDA alliance in Bihar.
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20:09 IST, February 22nd 2021