Patna: JD(U) MP Devesh Chandra Thakur has questioned the role of certain NDA functionaries in the defeat of alliance candidate Abhishek Jha in the Bihar legislative council election for Tirhut graduates’ seat, triggering a war of words. JD(U) won only one out of the four seats it contested while ally BJP also contested four seats and won only two.JD(U) candidate Jha described his defeat as the outcome of a political “chakravyuh” in which he was left isolated like Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata. He claimed that around 4,700 ballot papers bearing a tick mark against his name were declared invalid, arguing that the result could have been different had these votes been counted. He maintained that he harboured no bitterness against anyone and that the truth would emerge in time.Thakur alleged that some NDA functionaries were uncomfortable with his growing political stature and directed their hostility towards JD(U) candidate Jha because of his association with him. He suggested that certain functionaries had not worked sincerely for the alliance candidate, despite benefiting from his support in the past. According to Thakur, the JD(U) candidate became a victim of internal rivalries.However, BJP MLA from Riga, Baidyanath Prasad, strongly rejected the allegations of internal sabotage, asserting that the NDA had fought the graduates’ and teachers’ constituency elections unitedly.Questioning the appropriateness of Thakur’s remarks, Prasad said the candidate’s vote count had increased substantially due to the collective efforts of alliance functionaries and workers. Jha secured nearly 20,000 votes this time, compared with around 10,000 in the previous election, he pointed out.The exchange has brought alleged internal differences within the NDA into focus following the election results, with Thakur questioning the commitment of some alliance functionaries and the BJP MLA insisting that the coalition had worked collectively.jainarain.sports@gmail.com
