Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, June 29: The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM suffered a severe setback on Wednesday when four of the party’s five MLAs in Bihar joined RJD, which has since reclaimed its status as the single-largest party in the 243-member Assembly, surpassing the BJP.
The four party legislators, Muhammed Izhar Asfi (Kochadamam), Shahnawaz Alam (Jokihat), Syed Ruknuddin (Baisi), and Azhar Nayeemi (Bahadurgunj) joined the RJD, with the exception of AIMIM state president and Amour MLA Akhtarul Iman. Iman, a former RJD MLA, still owes Asaduddin Owaisi his allegiance.
Before these four AIMIM MLAs, the RJD had 76 MLAs. When all three of the Vikassheel Insaan Party’s MLAs joined the ruling BJP three months ago, it briefly benefited from the position. The four AIMIM MLAs were welcomed by opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and he expressed his hope that they will boost the RJD.
“We firmly believe all the four MLAs would work towards our goal of social justice and secularism. We have always got the love of the people of Seemanchal. Our party again has a good presence in Seemanchal,” said Tejashwi.
Despite having 115 MLAs, including 19 from Congress and 16 each from the CPI (ML) and the CPI, the RJD-led Grand Alliance is still seven MLAs short of the required simple majority. The Nitish Kumar-led NDA, on the other hand, is well-positioned with 127 MLAs. The Grand Alliance won’t reach the majority threshold even if Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), led by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, decides to swap sides with its four MLAs.
