RJD gains ground in Bihar as JD-U leaders switch sides

In a major setback to the NDA, three political heavyweights from the JD-U and a prominent LJP-R leader joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Friday. The move is expected to significantly change the political equations in the Magadh and Seemanchal regions in RJD's favour.

- IMRAN MOJIB

AmongthethreeJD-Uleaders are former MP from Purnea Santosh Kushwaha, former MP Jagdish Sharma's son Rahul Sharma, and JD-U MP from Banka Girdhari Yadav's son Chanakya Prakash. Former LJP candidate Ajay Kushwaha was the fourth leader to join the RJD.

This development follows another political defection just a day earlier, when senior JD-U leader and former minister Laxmeshwar Rai joined the RJD. Upon joining, Rai publicly criticised the JD-U, stating:

"This party is no longer for the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). People from our community are being ignored. That's why I had to leave."