Lalan Kumar Defects from BJP to RJD: Major Political Shift Before Bihar Assembly Elections

The Bihar assembly elections are scheduled in two phases with voting on November 6 and 11

Patna:

Lalan Kumar, the sitting MLA from Pirpainti constituency in Bihar, officially joined Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. This political shift comes at a critical juncture with the state preparing for polls scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11.

Kumar was previously a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representative from Pirpainti, a reserved SC constituency in Bihar's Bhagalpur district. His departure from the BJP represents a significant blow to the party with only one day remaining before the first phase of voting begins. Kumar had successfully contested and won the seat on a BJP ticket during the 2020 assembly elections.

Reports suggest Kumar's decision to leave the BJP stemmed from his dissatisfaction after being denied a party ticket for the upcoming election. For the 2025 polls, BJP has instead chosen Murari Paswan as its candidate for the Pirpainti constituency.

Following his switch to the opposition party, Kumar met with Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. He publicly announced his allegiance on Facebook, stating: "May the caravan of the Rashtriya Janata Dal continue to grow. From today, I too have joined it. We have to make Bihar a state dedicated to Tejashwi. We have all resolved to do this together. Tejashwi is the present, Tejashwi is the future. Jai Bhim."

The RJD officially welcomed Kumar through a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that "Due to the BJP's lobbying, current MLA Shri Lalan Paswan left the BJP today and joined the RJD family."

In the Pirpainti constituency, the electoral contest will now be between BJP's Murari Paswan and RJD's Ram Vilash Paswan, with Jan Suraaj Party's Ghanshyam Das also in the fray.

The first phase of the Bihar elections on November 6 will cover 121 assembly constituencies, while the remaining 122 seats will vote during the second phase on November 11.

The 2025 Bihar assembly elections feature a primary contest between two major alliances. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) includes the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

Opposing them is the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) led by RJD, which comprises the Congress party, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) under Deepankar Bhattacharya, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party.

Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has announced candidates for all 243 assembly seats in the state.