Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, March 24
The Legislature party of Vikshsheel Insaan Party (VIP) headed by Bihar Animal Husbandry Minister Mukesh Sahni on Wednesday evening merged with the BJP.
The three VIP MLAs who raised the revolt against Sahni are Mrs Sawarn Singh, MLA from Gaura Boram, Raju Kumar Singh from Sahebganj and Mishri Lal Yadav from Alinagar.
They met the Speaker, Vijay Kumar Sinha and submitted papers deserting VIP, a partner in NDA in Bihar. Bihar BJP President Sanjay Jaiswal and two Deputy Chief Ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were present on the occasion.
Sahni is a member of the Legislative Council while the three are Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who crossed the fence and joined the BJP camp. The VIP President, whose MLC term will expire on July 21, was now left alone in the party that had four MLAs. One passed away, necessitating a by-election that further widened the rift between the simmering differences between the VIP and the BJP.
Going vocal against the BJP despite being an ally of the NDA in Bihar, Sahni pitted its candidates against BJP in recently concluded Uttar Pradesh elections and repeated the same in Bihar. He fielded a VIP candidate against BJP nominee, Ms Baby Kumari at Bochaha constituency, where a by-election is scheduled for next month following the death of Musafir Paswan. He represented VIP.
His son Amar Paswan is however contesting the by-election as RJD candidate.
Prem Ranjan Patel, principal spokesman of the BJP demanded Sahni to leave NDA as he had been openly speaking in favour of Lalu Prasad Yadav and criticising BJP. He even fielded candidates against BJP nominees in the election for Bihar legislative council from local bodies constituency.
BJP on Wednesday expelled Sachchidanand Rai, sitting MLC for contesting against the official nominee in Saran and Ravishankar Paswan, son of party MP, Chhedi Paawan for contesting against Santosh Singh, BJP candidate from Rohtas.
The political development in Bihar has resulted in BJP emerging as the single largest party in the legislative assembly with 77 members. The RJD has 75 and JDU 44 members in the House.
