Sharad Yadav wins, Dilip Kumar Jaiswal backs out of Rajya Sabha race

PATNA: While JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who was defeated in the Lok Sabha election last month from Madhepura, was declared elected to Rajya Sabha uncontested on Thursday in the bypolls, a contest has become imminent for the remaining two seats with JD (U) rebels fielding two independents against the party's official nominees.
On the last day of withdrawal of names on Thursday, BJP MLC Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, who had filed his nomination papers as an independent, withdrew from the contest, claiming the contest has become dirty with the entry of 'filthy rich' in the election."Bhari gadbadi hogi (there will be large-scale irregularities)," he said. There was no consultation with BJP leaders on the issue (of withdrawal), he claimed.
Now, the four candidates left in the poll fray for the two other seats are former ambassador to Bhutan Pawan Kumar Varma and Ghulam Rasool Baliavi (both JD-U) while rebel party MLAs have sponsored former JD (U) MP Sabir Ali and realtor Anil Sharma, who was the JD (U) candidate from Jehanabad in the LS election, as their candidates. The term of the new MPs would expire on July 7, 2016.
After receiving the election certificate in his hotel room, Sharad said, "My victory is partial. It shall be complete when the two other nominees win." He refused to react on the rebels' activities. About the ministers' allegations against BJP, Sharad said, "It is better to keep our own house in order rather than accuse BJP for our problems."
JD (U) has alleged direct involvement of PM Narendra Modi in the RS by-election. Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said 7, RCR was directly monitoring the election in Bihar and demanded publication of the call records of former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi of the last 15 days. He alleged the BJP has fielded the two independent candidates.
As it is, the role of RJD MLAs in the bypolls has become crucial. State JD (U) president Bashistha Narain Singh said since RJD was a secular party, it was expected its MLAs would support the 'secular' JD (U) candidates. Abdul Bari Siddiqui, RJD legislature party leader, said party president Lalu Prasad may issue instruction on June 18 after meeting the party MLAs. All options are open, he said.
Parliamentary affairs minister Shrawan Kumar claimed the party MLAs who had signed the nomination papers of the two Independent candidates would also vote for the official nominees.
State Congress president Ashok Kumar Choudhary told TOI, "Congress will not support any behind-the- scene action of BJP in the RS bypolls. The party high command will issue a suitable direction soon."
BJP's chief whip in Vidhan Sabha Arun Kumar Sinha said, "The party will not issue any whip. We have left the issue to our MLAs. The party legislators would meet here on June 17 to take a collective decision."