Congress’ request rejected, Congress wanted seat for Kanhaiya Kumar
By Vishwapati
Patna: In Bihar, without any formality or notification of seat distribution among the Grand Alliance’s five constituent parties, the process of declaring candidates and allotting symbols began. The Grand Alliance parties have begun to announce their candidates without waiting for the Congress candidate.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has dealt a major blow to the Congress, which is seeking a Lok Sabha seat in Begusarai for former JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar. A ticket has been awarded to three-time MLA Awadhesh Rai to run against Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has not yet announced any candidates in Bihar. However, there is a likelihood that the party would again grant Giriraj Singh a ticket from Begusarai. Rakesh Sinha, a Rajya Sabha MP, is also vying for a BJP ticket. Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Begusarai will take place on May 13, with nominations beginning on April 18.
CPI General Secretary D Raja declared Awadhesh Rai’s candidate from Begusarai in Patna today. National Secretary Ramkrishna Panda, State Secretary Ramnaresh Pandey, and members of the State Secretary Board attended the event. Awadhesh Rai served as a three-time MLA from the Bachhwara assembly seat in Begusarai district, where BJP MLA Surendra Mehta was elected in the last Assembly elections. Surendra Mehta is now the Sports Minister in the Nitish Cabinet. Awadhesh Rai is also the district secretary of the CPI.
The author is a senior journalist based in Patna
