Bihar MLA quits JD-U, joins RJD; to contest LS bypoll

PATNA: In a move seen as a setback to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the Araria Lok Sabha bypoll next month, ruling JD-U MLA Sarfaraz Alam on Saturday resigned from the party and the membership of Bihar Legislative Assembly to join the RJD.

Alam was a Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator from Jokihat in Araria district of Bihar and one of the prime aspirants to contest the bypoll to Araria seat, which fell vacant following the death of his father Mohammad Taslimuddin, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP.

In a dramatic development, he joined the RJD in presence of senior party leader Shivanand Tiwary here. It was Tiwary who informed the media about the resignation of Alam as JD-U MLA and as the member of Bihar Legislative Assembly.

“After my father’s death, my mother was telling me to join the party of which my father was a founder member. It is due to the desire of my mother that I am back to my old home,” Alam said after joining the RJD.

Earlier, soon after he resigned from the JD-U, Alam called on Rabri Devi, former Chief Minister and wife of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, at her official residence 10, Circular Road here. However, after meeting her, Alam said it was just a courtesy call and that there was nothing more to it.

“It is certain that I will contest Araria bypoll but people of the constituency will decide from which party,” Alam had told the media.