The Janata Dal (United) said here on Friday that the Aam Aadmi Party would was not a factor in Bihar, whose electoral dynamics were far removed from those in Delhi.
“Arvind Kejriwal is not a factor in Bihar. Bihar is Bihar. You cannot link it to Delhi. Delhi’s broom [AAP’s symbol] will not work in Bihar,” JD (U) State president Bashishtha Narayan Singh told a press conference.
His statement came in the wake of ex-Bihar minister Parveen Amanullah’s switch from JD (U) to AAP. Ms. Amanullah recently resigned from the post of State Social Welfare minister.
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Asked to comment on her exit, Mr. Singh said, “We have nothing to say on her decision. Everybody has political freedom. We respected her in the party.”
On alliance
Mr. Singh said the talks with the Communist Party of India for an alliance were going in a “positive direction.” “We hope we are able to forge an alliance with them,” he said.
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The JD (U) is currently examining possible candidates for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The screening process will begin after February 16 and the party is likely to announce its candidates soon after.
On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shyamlal Kushwaha joined the JD (U).
“Mr. Kushwaha contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the Buxar constituency on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. He lost by 5,000 votes. He then joined the BJP when they were in alliance with the JD (U). He has a strong presence in Buxar,” Mr. Singh said.
The JD (U) had earlier asked its Rajya Sabha MP Shivanand Tiwary to contest from the Buxar seat, but he refused.