Patna:
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav released the list of candidates for the third phase of polls in Bihar on Monday. The state goes for six-phase polls from October 21.
Interestingly, Lalu Prasad, who is a sitting MP will be not contesting the polls. His wife and ex-Chief Minister Rabri Devi will contest from two seats, Sonepur and Raghopur. Lalu said that Rabri was fighting on two seats because she did not want to gain entry through backdoor in a reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is not contesting the elections.
According to sources within the RJD if Rabri Devi wins both her seats, and the RJD- LJP combine manages to win enough seats to form a government, then Lalu Yadav will contest from one of the seats that Rabri Devi will vacate.
Nitish Kumar will perhaps not mind the barb, comfortable as he is from staying out of the state's electoral politics. His current term as Chief Minister has come as a member of the state's Legislative Council and Nitish has made it clear that this arrangement will continue.
Sources within the JD (U) say the Bihar Chief Minister is reluctant get involved in contesting the elections, preferring instead to use his image as an efficient administrator to ensure the victory of his candidates in the upcoming elections.
For the Banka bypoll that was vacated after sitting MP Digvijay Singh died, the party has decided to field Jai Prakash Yadav. He would be taking on Putul Devi, the wife of late Digvijay Singh. Earlier, Lalu had promised that he would not be putting up a candidate against Putul Devi. However, Lalu reversed his stand after Putul Devi refused to contest on a RJD ticket. Singh had fallen out with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before the Lok Sabha elections of 2009.
Lalu also claimed that RJD was the only party that hasn't given tickets to people with criminal antecedents.
Interestingly, Lalu Prasad, who is a sitting MP will be not contesting the polls. His wife and ex-Chief Minister Rabri Devi will contest from two seats, Sonepur and Raghopur. Lalu said that Rabri was fighting on two seats because she did not want to gain entry through backdoor in a reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is not contesting the elections.
According to sources within the RJD if Rabri Devi wins both her seats, and the RJD- LJP combine manages to win enough seats to form a government, then Lalu Yadav will contest from one of the seats that Rabri Devi will vacate.
Nitish Kumar will perhaps not mind the barb, comfortable as he is from staying out of the state's electoral politics. His current term as Chief Minister has come as a member of the state's Legislative Council and Nitish has made it clear that this arrangement will continue.
Sources within the JD (U) say the Bihar Chief Minister is reluctant get involved in contesting the elections, preferring instead to use his image as an efficient administrator to ensure the victory of his candidates in the upcoming elections.
For the Banka bypoll that was vacated after sitting MP Digvijay Singh died, the party has decided to field Jai Prakash Yadav. He would be taking on Putul Devi, the wife of late Digvijay Singh. Earlier, Lalu had promised that he would not be putting up a candidate against Putul Devi. However, Lalu reversed his stand after Putul Devi refused to contest on a RJD ticket. Singh had fallen out with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before the Lok Sabha elections of 2009.
Lalu also claimed that RJD was the only party that hasn't given tickets to people with criminal antecedents.
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