Lagatar24 Desk
Bhagalpur: In a major political shift ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, BJP MLA Lalan Kumar from Pirpainti constituency (Bhagalpur district) resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party and officially joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav welcomed him into the party, and Kumar also met former Chief Minister Rabri Devi during the induction.
Reason Behind the Switch
Reports suggest that Lalan Kumar was upset after the BJP denied him a ticket for the upcoming election, choosing Murari Paswan as its candidate for the reserved Pirpainti seat. Feeling sidelined, Lalan decided to part ways with the party. After joining RJD, he shared pictures with Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi on Facebook, writing, “The caravan of RJD must keep growing. From today, I am part of it. Together, we will build a Tejashwi-led Bihar. Tejashwi is the present and the future! Jai Bhim!”
End of a Decade-Long Association with BJP
Before switching sides, Lalan Kumar posted his resignation message stating, “My political journey with the BJP ends here. I have always followed the instructions of senior leaders with gratitude. However, it now appears that the BJP no longer values assertive Dalit leadership.” His departure is being seen as a significant setback for the BJP’s outreach among Dalit voters in the region.
