Kurhani bypoll: GA set to launch campaign blitz

Patna: The ruling Grand Alliance (GA) has decided to engage an army of its top leaders to campaign for JD(U) candidate Manoj Singh Kushwaha in Kurhani assembly constituency in Muzaffarpur where byelection will be held on December 5. The main contestis between Kushwaha and BJP candidate Kedar Prasad Gupta. The AIMIM and Mukesh Sahani-led Vikassheel Insaan Party have also fielded their candidates.Keeping in view the challenges coming from the rivals, the GA has now planned to engage CM Nitish Kumar, his deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh in the poll campaign. In addition to them, all top leaders from the seven-party GA will also join the campaign.“The CM and the deputy CM will jointly campaign for the GA candidate on December 2. On November 30, Tejashwi, Manjhi and Lalan Singh will seek votes for him. The contest is going to be one-sided as our candidate is far ahead in the race,” state JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha told reporters on Friday.Curiously, Nitish had stayed away from the poll campaign during the byelections to Mokama and Gopalganj seats earlier and the explanation offered by the party was that the chief minister was “unwell”. The BJP is now extensively highlighting this issue before the voters and it is to be seen now if this impacts the fate of the JD(U) candidate.What has alarmed the JD(U) candidate is the entry of two players in the poll scene — the AIMIM and Sadhu Yadav. While AIMIM has once again fielded its candidate in the election, Sadhu, who happens to be the brother-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, has been campaigning against the GA candidate. “On what basis can the RJD expect the victory of the GA candidate? It has already fled the scene leaving its sitting seat to the JD(U). The GA will suffer serious defeat in the byelection,” Yadav said.The BJP said winds are blowing against the GA and none can help it win the election. “By denying ticket to EBC candidate, the JD(U) has shown its disrespect towards this community although this seat was held by a person from this community. The party is bound to face the ire of the EBC voters,” leader of opposition in Bihar legislative council Samrat Chaudhary said.
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