JDU MLA quits, to contest Lok Sabha bypoll as RJD candidate

The ruling JDU in Bihar suffered a jolt as its MLA from Jokhihat, Sarfaraj Alam quit the membership of the state assembly on Saturday and announced his candidature as RJD nominee from Araria Lok Sabha constituency.

Nomination for the byelection begins on Monday and polling will be held on March 11.

Byelection was necessitated due to the death of Sarfaraj’s father Mohammed Tadalimuddin, a former union minister who was elected on RJD symbol on 2014.

Sarfaraj claimed he obeyed the direction of his mother to contest the byelection as RJD candidate.

Immediately after submitting his papers in Bihar assembly, he called on the national vice president of RJD Rabri Devi. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, will address a rally at Araria on Sunday.

In 2014 elections, Tadalimuddin had defeated the then sitting MP of BJP Pradeep Kumar.

Two senior Congress legislators, Dilip Chaudhury and Ram Chandra Bharti on Saturday asked the party high command to dump the alliance with the RJD and contest the byelections in Araria Lok Sabha and Jehanabad and Bhabhua assembly constituencies.

The NDA too is divided over contesting the by-elections. JDU president and chief minister Nitish Kumar said decision would be taken in next three days.

HAM(S) president Jeetan Ram Manjhi said his party would seek to contest Jehanabad seat.