Two RJD MLAs back Independent candidate in Nawada

Campaigning in Bihar’s Nawada Lok Sabha seat has created an unusual situation after two Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs extended their support to an Independent candidate, Vinod Yadav, instead of the party’s candidate, Shravan Kushwaha.

The RJD has taken a serious view of the matter and is mulling action against the two MLAs.

The RJD’s State unit president, Jagdanand Singh, has deputed former party MLA Shakti Yadav as an observer in Nawada to deal with the situation.

‘Seen sharing the stage’

Rajauli MLA Prakash Veer and Nawada MLA Vibha Devi are campaigning in support of Mr. Vinod, the brother of bahubali Rajballav Yadav. Ms. Devi is the wife of Rajballav Yadav, who is currently serving a life term following his conviction in a case involving the rape of a minor. Mr. Veer and Ms. Devi were seen openly sharing the stage with Mr. Vinod, but neither has attended a single campaign of Mr. Kushwaha.

Though there is a direct fight between the National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan grouping in Nawada, the contest may be triangular.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in support of the BJP’s candidate, Vivek Thakur, son of senior BJP leader and former Union Minister C.P. Thakur, a Bhumihar, whereas Mr. Kushwaha belongs to the Koeri community, which falls under the Other Backward Classes (OBC).

When Mr. Vinod filed his nomination as an Independent candidate on March 28, he announced that he was contesting the election in response to the “call of the people of Nawada”, and stressed that Nawada would create history in the election.

On April 12, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav is scheduled to hold a rally in support of Mr. Kushwaha.

It remains to be seen whether the two RJD MLAs will share the stage with Mr. Tejashwi Yadav or not.