Chaos during JD(U) press meet

Patna (PTI): Chaotic scenes marred a press meet called by the ruling JD(U) on Wednesday to announce the induction of three former RJD leaders into its fold as supporters of a Bihar Minister interrupted the event over reported denial of ticket to their leader.

Soon after the party's state unit president, Rajiv Ranjan Singh `Lalan', made the announcement of induction of RJD's former MPs Jai Narayan Prasad Nishad and Mangni Lal Mandal, and former MLC Ravindra Tanti, supporters of Agriculture Minister Nagmani entered the venue, shouting slogans against the party leadership and pushing aside cameramen of TV news channels.

As the ruckus continued, Singh and JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari were heard shouting "the question of getting ticket will arise when Nagmani remains in the party which he won't."

"Nobody can get ticket by bullying us," the duo said asking the minister's supporters to vacate the venue.

Nagmani's supporters also challenged Singh to contest from Ujiarpur, a seat being demanded by the minister for himself or his wife Suchitra Singh, also an MLA.

As the commotion continued for over half-an-hour, police were called in and the trouble makers left the scene raising slogans against Singh.

Singh later inducted Nishad, Mandal and Tanti into the party.

Nagmani, who joined JD(U) just before the October 2005 assembly elections which catapulted Nitish Kumar to the chief minister's chair, was with Ramvilas Paswan's LJP during the February 2005 polls. He was earlier with Congress.

Nishad is a three-term former member of the Lok Sabha from Muzaffarpur and was a minister of state in the H D Deve Gowda government at the Centre. He was till recently RJD member in the Rajya Sabha.

He, according to JD(U) sources, is likely to be given party nomination for the Muzaffarpur seat.

"I had made clear my intentions of contesting the Muzaffarpur seat when I was not a member of any political party... Now that I have joined JD(U) its for the party to decide my candidacy from the seat," Nishad said.

Senior JD(U) leader and NDA convenor George Fernandes had contested and won from the Muzaffarpur seat in the last polls.

Source : The Hindu