Political exodus: Advantage JD(U)

PATNA: The pre-poll exodus from all the parties
goes on unabated. The "poll victims", who have been denied tickets by their respective parties,
are taking refuge in other parties with a sense of vengeance.

In this process, the JD(U) has emerged as the biggest gainer. No day passes when some politicians do not join the party. While other parties wear a deserted look after the declaration of party nominees, almost everyday some politicians reach the JD(U) office in procession and the campus is soon littered with flowers and garlands.

On Saturday, senior Congress leader and former minister Veena Shahi joined the JD(U). Others joining the party included Upendra Prasad, who served as president of Chhatra RJD for a long time and joined the party with 35 district unit presidents. Kamla Devi and her husband Chandrika Prasad Yadav came quitting the Congress. Kamla Devi had been given Congress ticket from Jehanabad, but later the party withdrew the symbol under, what she called, pressure from RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

"Such developments occur during elections as the ambitions of the politicians have been growing," said JD(U) spokesman Shivanand Tiwary. He conceded that some of the people joining the party must have some ambitions and expectations. But he also claimed that a cross section of politicians having their areas of influence will benefit the party in long term.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar said his party was hardly affected by this pre-poll exodus. "If two people left us, 12 joined," he remarked. Prominent persons who quit the JD(U) include minister Nagmani, Ram Badan Rai, MLC, and Ram Jiwan Singh and former deputy speaker of state assembly Gajendra Prasad Himanshu. But the list of those joining the party is long and counting.

The recent joining by Vijay Krishna from RJD and Ghulam Rasool Baliavi from LJP jolted the two parties in view of the political USP of these leaders.

Another party which benefited from exodus is the Congress after it decided to contest all the parliamentary seats in Bihar. With so many outsiders approaching the party for ticket, party headquarters Sadaquat Ashram suddenly looks crowded and vibrant. However, in the Congress only those leaders arrived who were ticket aspirants and were assured of one. As a result, Congress leaders who felt sidelined started quitting. "Our party is thriving on borrowed players," commented a senior Congressman.

JD(U)'s ally BJP, however, gained little. No leader of stature except Rama Devi from RJD has joined the BJP. While the entry of politicians to other parties has almost stopped, it is still going on in JD(U). "The more Lalu and Ram Vilas Paswan will attack me, more leaders of their parties will join us," quipped Nitish.

Source : Times of India