Advertisement
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has unveiled its inaugural list of candidates for Bihar. The announcement includes contenders for all four seats slated for polling in the initial phase.
In a strategic move, the RJD has fielded Abhay Kushwaha, a former member of Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU), from Aurangabad. Kushwaha’s defection to the RJD underscores the shifting political landscape in Bihar. Other nominees include Kumar Sarvjeet for Gaya, Shravan Kushwaha for Nawada, and Archana Ravidas for Jamui.
While seat-sharing negotiations within the Mahagathbandhan remain ongoing, reports indicate that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav is asserting control over candidate selection and allocation of the party symbol. This development follows the RJD’s executive meeting on Wednesday, where Yadav was granted full authority to steer coalition decisions.
Senior RJD leader Shyam Rajak affirmed Yadav’s pivotal role in coalition affairs, emphasizing his influence in determining coalition composition.
The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to unfold in seven phases, commencing from April 19 and culminating in results announced on June 4. Bihar will witness voting across multiple phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1.
In addition to the parliamentary elections, assembly polls are slated in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Bypolls for 26 assembly constituencies are also scheduled, with the entire electoral process culminating in the counting of votes on June 4.
