With electioneering coming to an end and the last phase of polling only a week away, the JD(U) is thinking of taking on its rebel leaders, including some MPs who were under suspicion during the month-long election period or were found to be involved in anti-party activities.
This has been hinted by party national president Sharad Yadav and later by state party chief Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. Both of them at separate press meets said the party will certainly take action against them at an appropriate time.
The supposedly sulking leaders include Upendra Kushwaha, Monazir Hasan, Poornamasi Ram, Mahabali Singh, Capt Jai Narayan Nishad - all MPs - and some others. They reportedly turned hostile after the party refused to entertain their wards for tickets to contest the elections.
Among the rebels, the classic case is that of chief minister Nitish Kumar's old confidant and former state party ch
ief Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, who is aggressively campaigning for Congress candidates and asking people to dislodge the state govenment headed by Nitish. Lalan is a JD(U) MP from Munger.
However, some of them who were contacted by TOI denied they were sulking. But, they said the party did not give them any work during the election. The JD(U) refused to utilise the services of certain leaders in the election apprehending a negative effect on the party. The newly-inducted Upendra Kushwaha, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha, was kept off the campaign. "We saw his behaviour at the Rajgir convention so there was no question of involving him in the campaign," said Chowdhary.
"I am not unhappy with the party, its policies or the leadership. I don't know why they are blaming me and treating me as a rebel," Kushwaha told TOI on Saturday. He said he did not know why the party was ignoring him. But he revealed that none of the 10-15 party workers whom he recommended were given party tickets.
"The election is still on so it will not be appropriate for me to say anything. But I will definitely react to Chowdhary's charges," said Kushwaha. He added he had raised the issue of the party workers and other related matters at the JD(U) forum and not at any public meeting.
Begusarai MP Monazir Hasan, whose wife is contesting from Munger on an RJD ticket, said he did not campaign for her.
"I was in Munger during that period but never campaigned for her," Hasan said, while admitting to have a "soft corner" for her.
Hasan claimed he did not approach anybody for a ticket for his wife. "Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi compelled her to contest. I played no role in getting her the nomination. But since she is my wife, it is quite natural that people will bracket me with her," Hasan said.
JD(U) MP Mahabali Singh's son is also contesting on an RJD ticket. However, two other JD(U) MPs failed to get nominations for their wards. Poornamsi Ram's son got a ticket from the Congress but he was denied a symbol. A similar situation was faced by Muzaffarpur MP Captain Jai Narayan Nishad, whose daughter-in-law got the party ticket but failed to get a symbol.
Sitamarhi MP Arjun Rai denied lobbying for his wife. He said since the seat he was interested in went to the BJP in the seat sharing arrangement, he did not pursue the matter. He said he worked for the party candidates not only in his district but also in Nawada.
This has been hinted by party national president Sharad Yadav and later by state party chief Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. Both of them at separate press meets said the party will certainly take action against them at an appropriate time.
The supposedly sulking leaders include Upendra Kushwaha, Monazir Hasan, Poornamasi Ram, Mahabali Singh, Capt Jai Narayan Nishad - all MPs - and some others. They reportedly turned hostile after the party refused to entertain their wards for tickets to contest the elections.
Among the rebels, the classic case is that of chief minister Nitish Kumar's old confidant and former state party ch
ief Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, who is aggressively campaigning for Congress candidates and asking people to dislodge the state govenment headed by Nitish. Lalan is a JD(U) MP from Munger.However, some of them who were contacted by TOI denied they were sulking. But, they said the party did not give them any work during the election. The JD(U) refused to utilise the services of certain leaders in the election apprehending a negative effect on the party. The newly-inducted Upendra Kushwaha, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha, was kept off the campaign. "We saw his behaviour at the Rajgir convention so there was no question of involving him in the campaign," said Chowdhary.
"I am not unhappy with the party, its policies or the leadership. I don't know why they are blaming me and treating me as a rebel," Kushwaha told TOI on Saturday. He said he did not know why the party was ignoring him. But he revealed that none of the 10-15 party workers whom he recommended were given party tickets.
"The election is still on so it will not be appropriate for me to say anything. But I will definitely react to Chowdhary's charges," said Kushwaha. He added he had raised the issue of the party workers and other related matters at the JD(U) forum and not at any public meeting.
Begusarai MP Monazir Hasan, whose wife is contesting from Munger on an RJD ticket, said he did not campaign for her.
"I was in Munger during that period but never campaigned for her," Hasan said, while admitting to have a "soft corner" for her.
Hasan claimed he did not approach anybody for a ticket for his wife. "Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi compelled her to contest. I played no role in getting her the nomination. But since she is my wife, it is quite natural that people will bracket me with her," Hasan said.
JD(U) MP Mahabali Singh's son is also contesting on an RJD ticket. However, two other JD(U) MPs failed to get nominations for their wards. Poornamsi Ram's son got a ticket from the Congress but he was denied a symbol. A similar situation was faced by Muzaffarpur MP Captain Jai Narayan Nishad, whose daughter-in-law got the party ticket but failed to get a symbol.
Sitamarhi MP Arjun Rai denied lobbying for his wife. He said since the seat he was interested in went to the BJP in the seat sharing arrangement, he did not pursue the matter. He said he worked for the party candidates not only in his district but also in Nawada.
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