Ram Vilas Paswan
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By Atyasha Singh*
Patna: Cracks in Janata Dal (United)-led government in Bihar came out in open after Lok Jan Shakti (LJP), one of the constituents of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), joined the opposition parties in demanding postponement of assembly polls in the state on grounds of the pandemic and devastating floods, on Sunday.
The LJP while replying to suggestions sought by the Election Commission about conducting elections in view of the prevailing situation sought postponement of the impending polls due to the twin calamities plaguing the state.
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The LJP in the process joined hands with the Grand Alliance comprising Rashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) and Congress, much to the discomfiture of JD(U) and BJP which preferred to leave the contentious issue to the discretion of the Election Commission. In all 50 parties,Seven national and 43 regional, replied to the poll panel till its scheduled deadline of July 31.
Also read: Are surge in COVID-19 cases and ravaging floods pushing Bihar towards President’s Rule?
As it is relations between the JD(U) and the LJP had soured after Ram Vilas Paswan led LJP demanded a lion’s share in distribution of seats among the constituents of the NDA. The LJP had contested 42 seats in the company of Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015 when JD(U) had joined hands with Lalu Prasad Yadav but ended up winning only two seats.
Though it is too early to say if the stand off between the JD(U) will lead to realignment of political forces,the defiant attitude of the LJP has definitely put the BJP in a tight spot to keep the NDA united ahead of the assembly polls.
*The writer is a freelance journalist.
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