JD(U) plans to set agenda for West Bengal elections

The JD(U) looks all set to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal independently. Following which the party is scheduled to hold its national executive meeting on December 26th and 27th in Patna. writes, Abinash Kumar – Chief Reporter, Patna Bureau.

Patna:JDU president and chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar to take the final call on the Bengal poll due in April-May. He is going to take the decision during the two days national executive committee meet which will be held in Patna on 26th and 27th of this month.

The meeting assumes significance as the party has declared to field 75 candidates in Bengal poll but the number of candidates are likely to increase. JDU national general secretary RCP Singh is continuously holding meetings with this regard.

“We are going to hold an important meeting and discussion would take place on the election in other states. The agenda of the election and expansion of the party would be discussed,” said JDU spokesperson Ranjiv Ranjan.

The meeting has been scheduled at the time when the party is struggling to make its own mark after a setback in the Bihar election.

According to the sources, the agenda which would be discussed in the meeting includes Bengal poll, a setback in Bihar assembly election, the role of LJP to spoil JDU game plan, the election in other states, expansion of party, present political scenario after the formation of the new government and last but not the least possible successor of Nitish.

Around 250 leaders from across India would be attending the two days meet at the party's headquarters office located at Beerchand Patel Path. The leaders who would be attending the meeting have already been informed well in advance.

Speaking over the scheduled meeting, JDU state president Bashishtha Narayan Singh said, “Several issues would be discussed in the meeting and decisions would be shared with the media as well. Elections in neighbouring states would also be discussed.”

It would be interesting to see how BJP will cope up with JDU's decision to contest the Bengal poll. Nitish is really serious and it could be understood from the fact that he chose a Muslim face to make the announcement on Bengal poll.

JDU MLC Gulam Rasool Baliyavi had made the announcement a few days back.

Senior JDU leader and former minister Jai Kumar Singh who lost the election this time at Dinara assembly seat also spoke about the meeting. He, however, restricted himself on LJP because it was rebelling BJP leader Rajendra Singh who played a pivotal role in his defeat by contesting the election on LJP ticket.

“All the issues would be discussed in the meeting but the role of LJP in Bihar assembly election needs to be discussed thoroughly. The Mahagathbandhan got the benefit of around 30 seats because of LJP, “Singh stressed.

Political experts, however, opined that Nitish will stress upon how to make his relevance alive in the changed scenario.

“In think, two-issue would be really important in the meeting: the first is the past and second is the future. How the party performed in the past and what strategy the party would be taking to ensure that JDU becomes a national party. Nitish will focus to make his relevance alive in the changed scenario. Strategy to go ahead with or without BJP apart from strengthening the social base of the party, “said Ajay Jha, political expert.

This time, JDU slipped down to the third number as far as seats in the recently concluded assembly poll are concerned. Bengal election would be an opportunity for the party to revamp its organisational structure and how Nitish makes his relevance important in days to come.

Today's tweet by former national vice president of JDU Prashant Kishor has added fuel in the Bengal poll. This morning ''PK'' posted a tweet from his official Twitter handle saying that BJP will struggle to cross double digits.