In another blow to Congress in Uttar Pradesh ahead of Lok Sabha elections, AICC national secretary and co-in-charge of Bihar Ajay Kapoor joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Wednesday. The grand old party wanted to field Kapoor, who had been MLA from Kanpur, in the Lok Sabha elections from Kanpur seat.
The development occurs after the I.N.D.I.A bloc rally was held in Patna on March 3, and Congress and RJD leaders were scheduled to meet in Delhi in the coming days to finalise a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar.
As Kapoor Joins BJP, Trouble Surfaces For I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar:
According to reports, the Congress has demanded 10 of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats and expects to receive 8 or 9 seats. "The alliance meeting will be held in a few days to finalise seat sharing. "The alliance will do very well in Bihar," AICC secretary in charge of Bihar, Ajay Kapoor himself told ETV Bharat.
When Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra visited Bihar recently, the Congress held a large rally in Purnia. Furthermore, the contentious Katihar seat must be discussed, as the Congress, RJD, and CPI-ML all want to run from there. Former Congress Working Committee member Tariq Anwar, Bihar CLP leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan, and RJD candidate Ashfaq all want to run from Katihar.
According to reports, the Bihar alliance must be finalised by March 15, just two days before the I.N.D.I.A rally will be held in Mumbai on March 17. Congress President Kharge has written to all I.N.D.I.A partners inviting them to attend the Mumbai rally, which will mark the end of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
"Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav set the tone for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections at the Patna rally. The presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav boosted the alliance, which has the potential to do wonders in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," Ajay Kapoor had said.
The Congress had hoped to win 5 or 6 seats when JD-U was a part of the alliance, but now that Nitish Kumar has joined forces with the BJP, more seats have become available for the I.N.D.I.A bloc.
Trail Of Congress Leaders Joining BJP Continues:
It is to be noted that several Congress leaders have recently joined the BJP. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Padmakar Valvi joined the ruling party in Maharashtra.
READ | Another Setback To Congress As Former Maharashtra Minister Padmakar Valvi Joins BJP Ahead Of Polls
Reports say that the wife of former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Congress MP Preneet Kaur is also likely to join BJP.
READ | Former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh's Wife Likely To Join BJP, Contest From Patiala: Sources
In Rajasthan, last week, including former ministers Rajendra Yadav and Lal Chand Kataria, joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Former Congress MLAs Ricchpal Mirdha, Vijaypal Mirdha, and Khiladi Bairwa, former independent MLA Alok Beniwal, former state Congress chief Seva Dal Suresh Chaudhary, Rampal Sharma ang Riju Jhunjhunwala among other leaders also joined the ruling party in the state.