Bihar: MLA Bharat Bind Joins BJP In Patna, 5th RJD Leader To Jump Ship

Former RJD leader Bharat Bind switched sides and joined with the BJP on Friday.

Bhabhua MLA Bharat Bind joined the BJP on Friday ( Image Source :ANI )

In yet another blow to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD ), Bhabhua MLA Bharat Bind switched sides and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata (BJP) in the assembly on Friday. Bharat Bind, an RJD MLA from Bhabua, arrived at the Assembly on Friday, riding in the car of Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary. Subsequently, he sat with the ruling party MLAs in the assembly, indicating his departure from the RJD to join the BJP. 

Following his move to the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), Bharat Bind expressed his reaction, and said, "I wanted to join so I did... Everyone is running their party properly. I have faith in the policies, so I came, " ANI reported.

#WATCH | Patna: On joining BJP, former RJD MLA Bharat Bind says, "I wanted to join so I did... Everyone is running their party properly. I have faith in the policies, so I came..." https://t.co/vmzI2TLwSF pic.twitter.com/NzRvm100zn

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024

#WATCH | Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA from Bhabhua assembly seat Bharat Bind joined BJP in Patna today pic.twitter.com/Xaw0vDGOGu

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2024

Who Is Bharat Bind?

He hails from Silota village in the Chand police station area of Kaimur district and commenced his political journey in 2010. He secured victory in the Zilla Parishad elections that year. Subsequently, in 2015, he ran as a candidate for the Bahujan Samaj Party in the Bhabhua Assembly, albeit experiencing defeat.

Following this setback, Bharat Bind aligned himself with Lalu Prasad Yadav's party, the RJD. He received the RJD ticket for the 2020 assembly elections and contested from the Bhabhua constituency, emerging victorious. 

According to the agency ANI, previously, Bharat Bind was the Bihar unit chief of the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), but later Tejashwi Yadav inducted him into the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Total 5 MLAs Of RJD Jumped Ship So Far

The initial defection saw three RJD MLAs switching sides, namely Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi, and Prahlad Yadav. Following this, two MLAs from the Congress and one from the RJD also crossed over. Among the trio was Sangeeta Devi from the RJD. Adding to this, RJD MLA Bharat Bind has now parted ways. Consequently, Tejashwi Yadav has lost five of his MLAs, while the Congress has lost two.

The RJD fought the 2020 state elections in coalition with the Congress Party and the Left, securing a total of 110 seats.