BJP to support JMM in Mandu bypoll

BJP to support JMM in Mandu bypoll

It’s going to be a too-little-too-late story. The State BJP on Friday announced its decision to support JMM candidate Jai Prakash Patel in the Mandu Assembly bypoll. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth of JD(U) candidate Khiru Mahto, who had lobbied for electoral support from its NDA ally.

“The BJP will support the JMM candidate to defeat the Congress and the JVM candidate. The Congress is responsible for corruption and price hike in the country; it must be taught a lesson in the election. The JVM acting like a B team of the Congress will too get defeated in the election,” State BJP spokesperson Deepak Prakash told the media.

However, Prakash has only aired national concerns of the party for a very regional event like the Mandu by-election. The BJP’s own concern over the shaky political alliance with the JMM in the coalition remains its chief reason for support. Prakash deliberately chose not to mention the JD(U) and its claim over the seat. Soon after the announcement, senior JD(U) leader and Minister in Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Government Bhim Singh termed it unfortunate.

“We had pre-poll alliance with the BJP. The JD(U) has been fighting the Mandu seat under seat-sharing arrangements. After support to the JMM, it seems that the BJP has no interest in keeping the alliance. We will be free to decide our political course of action,” he told The Pioneer over the phone.