Weeks ahead of Bihar polls, JD(U) expels 16 leaders, including sitting MLA

Less than two weeks before the Bihar Assembly election, the Janata Dal (United) expelled 16 leaders, including a sitting MLA and two former ministers, from the party, PTI reported.

Most of those removed from the party are slated to contest the elections against candidates from the National Democratic Alliance, of which the Janata Dal (United) is a part. The leaders have been accused of engaging in anti-party activities and violating the outfit’s ideology.

The Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and November 11, and the votes will be counted on November 14.

Among those who have been expelled are Gopalpur MLA Narendra Niraj alias Gopal Mandal, former Member of Legislative Council Sanjeev Shyam Singh and former minister Himraj Singh, PTI reported.

Gopal Mandal had recently protested outside JD(U) chief and state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence in Patna after he came to know that the party was planning to leave him out of its list of candidates. After the JD(U) fielded Buno Mandal, a former Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, from Gopalpur, Gopal Mandal filed his nomination as an Independent candidate.

Sanjeev Shyam Singh is contesting from Gurua in Gaya district as a candidate of Prashant Kishor's party Jan Suraaj. Himraj Singh is also contesting the election from Katihar as an Independent candidate,...

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