In a big boost for Bihar’s opposition politics, JD-U MLA Sanjiv Kumar from the Parbatta Assembly constituency is switching to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav confirmed the move on Friday, saying it will strengthen RJD’s hold in the region.
Tejashwi shared the news while announcing a trip to Parbatta in Khagaria district for Kumar’s official induction. “Sanjiv Kumar, the current JD-U MLA, will join our party,” Tejashwi said. “We’re heading to Parbatta to welcome him, and this will make us even stronger there.”
Kumar had already hinted at leaving JD-U during a recent speech to supporters in his home area. His decision fits a pattern of unrest within JD-U ranks. Back in February 2024, during the crucial floor test for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government, Kumar sparked controversy by arriving late to the Bihar Assembly. Reports say he was in neighboring Jharkhand and got stopped by police at the Bihar-Jharkhand border in Nawada district. He did vote in favor of the government eventually, but his actions painted him as a rebel inside the party.
Kumar isn’t the only one making waves. Bima Bharti, a former JD-U MLA from Rupauli in Purnea, showed similar defiance during that same floor test. She quit JD-U, jumped to RJD, and ran for the Lok Sabha seat from Purnea on an RJD ticket—but lost to independent candidate Rajesh Ranjan, better known as Pappu Yadav. Bharti also tried for the Rupauli by-poll later but came up short.
Now, both Kumar and Bharti look set to run in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections on RJD tickets—Kumar from Parbatta and Bharti from Rupauli. This move highlights RJD’s push to build its base by pulling in frustrated leaders from rivals like JD-U. The party is actively scouting for more such switches from opposition groups ahead of the polls.
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