RLJP to contest Bihar Assembly Elections independently, says chief Pashupati Kumar Paras
Patna:The Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) has decided to contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections independently after talks to form an alliance with the opposition Mahagathbandhan failed to materialise. The elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on 6 and 11 November, with results declared on 14 November.
RLJP chief Pashupati Kumar Paras confirmed the decision, expressing optimism about the party’s prospects.
"We made significant efforts to form an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan, but the alliance did not materialise. Our party is strong in Bihar with the support of Dalit Sena. We have decided to contest the elections alone. I am hopeful that in the first phase of the elections, we will win a good number of seats," Paras told ANI.
Meanwhile, the Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), a key constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), reaffirmed the alliance’s unity and dismissed speculation of internal friction ahead of the polls.
"As much confusion as was being spread about the NDA, I had repeatedly said that all matters would be decided very smoothly within the NDA, whether it is about seat selection or finalising candidates. The Mahagathbandhan is a confused alliance. I say with confidence that the NDA alliance is moving towards a historic victory," Paswan told ANI.
He added:
"We are contesting the elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar...I have not had even 1% dispute with any other constituent party...We will truly celebrate Diwali on 14 November."
The NDA has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the Bihar polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) will contest 101 seats each. Union Ministers Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) have been allotted six seats each, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest 29 seats.
Separately, the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, announced a list of six candidates and confirmed it will contest the elections independently after expressing dissatisfaction with the NDA’s seat-sharing.
The Congress party also released its first list of 48 candidates. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Rajesh Ram will contest from the Kutumba Assembly seat, and Congress Legislature Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan will fight from Kadwa. Half of the candidates will contest in the first phase and the remainder in the second, with more names to be announced in due course.