137 JD(U) and BJP leaders join Congress

Congress says JD(U) and BJP are fighting a battle of attrition among themselves over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP's poll campaign chief

In a boost to Congress in Bihar, 137 JD(U) and BJP leaders, including former JD(U) spokesperson Shambhunath Sinha, today joined Congress.

Sinha and others were given primary membership of Congress by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Ashok Chaudhary at a function held at the Sadakat Ashram here.

Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhary asked all former Congressmen, who had joined other parties, to return to their parent party and strengthen it ahead of the next general elections.

He also had a dig at JD(U) and BJP for fighting a battle of attrition among themselves over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP's poll campaign chief and possible parting of ways between the two NDA allies despite best efforts of the BJP patriarch L K Advani.

"The NDA government (in Bihar) is on ventilator and grasping for its last breath," the BPCC president alleged and claimed Bihar Congress will play an important role in the state politics, apparently hinting that the four-member Congress legislature party may extend support to Nitish Kumar government if JD(U) severe ties with BJP.

Besides Sinha, the other prominent JD(U) and BJP leaders joining the Congress are Rajkishore Singh, Premnath Paswan, Anil Kumar Nag, Rajesh Sinha, Pranav Pandey, Bhola Sharma, Sanjay Sharma and Rahul Kumar Singh.