LJP (Ram Vilas) to go it alone in Bihar Council poll

Decision likely to mar the wining prospects of the nominees of both alliances

As the Bihar Council polls for 24 seats under the local area constituencies category are barely a month away, the Chirag Paswan–led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is all set to go solo and cause damage to the winning prospects of many candidates as it had done in the last Assembly elections.

Mr. Paswan–led united LJP, though, had won a single seat in the poll but it allegedly had caused the defeat of over two dozen ruling JD(U) candidates. Months later, he faced a rebellion leading to a split into Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party led by his uncle and now Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras and the LJP (Ram Vilas).

The poll is slated for April 4 and the results will be announced on April 7.

Of the 24 seats, 13 were held by the BJP, eight by the JD(U), two by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and one by the Congress party. The ruling NDA allies — the BJP and the JD(U) — had recently finalised a deal to contest 12 and 11 seats leaving one seat to Mr. Paras-led party.

Two of the other NDA partners, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Mukesh Sahani (a Minister in Nitish Kumar Cabinet) were given the cold shoulder.

In the Opposition Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) camp, the RJD did not spare even a single seat to ally Congress. It will contest 23 seats leaving one seat to the CPI. After a long wait for a tie-up, the Congress too announced it would go it alone.