By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: After Chief Minister Nitish Kumar switched alliances last year, several MLAs from the Grand Alliance, including four from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), defected to the ruling party. The RJD has now intensified its efforts to have the memberships of these rebel MLAs revoked.
On Wednesday, the RJD formally wrote to the Assembly Speaker, Nand Kishore Yadav, demanding the cancellation of the memberships of the four MLAs. A delegation of Grand Alliance MLAs, led by Legislative Councillor Abdul Bari Siddiqui, met the Speaker to press this demand.
Following the meeting, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, the RJD’s Principal General Secretary, emphasised the importance of the anti-defection law, stating that it applies universally across the country. “In Bihar, four RJD MLAs have joined the ruling party, but no action has been taken against them under the anti-defection law. We met the Speaker with a demand to address this issue,” he said.
Siddiqui added that the Speaker informed them that notices had previously been issued to the MLAs in question, but no responses had been received. The Speaker assured the delegation that fresh notices would be issued. “We hope the Speaker will take swift action against the rebel MLAs. Justice delayed is justice denied,” Siddiqui remarked.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra also voiced his frustration, stating that the anti-defection law should be enforced against the four MLAs, who openly align themselves with the ruling party during Assembly proceedings. “They have violated the party whip, yet no action has been taken. Nearly a year has passed. If action is not taken before the next session, we will disrupt the House proceedings,” he warned.
The four RJD MLAs in question are Prahlad Yadav (Suryagarha), Chetan Anand (Seohar), Neelam Devi (Mokama), and Sangeeta Kumari (Mohania). Of these, three defected during Nitish Kumar’s trust vote, while Sangeeta Kumari joined the BJP later during the same session.
Sangeeta Kumari’s defection has drawn particular attention. On 24 December, Bihar BJP President Dilip Jaiswal appointed her as the party’s state spokesperson. Despite winning her seat in the 2020 elections on an RJD ticket and being considered close to Tejashwi Yadav, she shifted allegiances. She openly campaigned for NDA candidates in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while retaining her RJD membership.
The RJD has urged the Speaker to take decisive action before the upcoming Assembly session to uphold the sanctity of the anti-defection law and prevent further political disruptions.
