JD (U) to contest elections in poll-bound states

With an aim to have a pan-India presence, the JD (U) is likely to contest Assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

The move is being seen as a desperate attempt by the regional outfit, which has marginal presence outside Bihar, to spread its tentacles beyond the state so that the JD (U) could emerge as a national party ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The decision to contest elections in poll-bound states comes on a day when Nitish had been busy holding parleys with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) president Babulal Marandi. The talks for a possible merger of splinter group of Janata Parivar and other smaller regional parties are underway to give more teeth to the JD (U).

Sources in the JD (U) said that in Assam, where polling will take place on April 4 and 11, the ruling party of Bihar has already held conversations with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal. The party has despatched one of its general secretaries to Assam to identify the candidates.