Tejashwi Yadav Announces RJD's Alliance with LDF for Kerala Elections

RJD to Support LDF in Kerala Assembly Elections

On Sunday, Tejashwi Yadav, the acting president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), declared that the party will collaborate with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the upcoming Kerala assembly elections. The LDF is set to face off against the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the state. Yadav emphasized that RJD's goal is to assist the LDF in maintaining its governance.

This announcement followed a meeting with RJD legislators from the Grand Alliance in Bihar, just hours before the voting for five Rajya Sabha seats in the state. One of these seats is contested by the RJD, with voting scheduled for Monday.

The former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar stated, "Our party will contest the assembly elections as part of the LDF in Kerala. We have previously had representation in the Kerala assembly, and we are optimistic about helping the LDF retain power in the state."

While Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are rivals in Kerala, they are allies in the Grand Alliance in Bihar.

Bihar's Rajya Sabha Elections and Grand Alliance Dynamics

In the context of the Rajya Sabha elections, the RJD holds 25 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly, relying on support from 10 legislators from its Grand Alliance partners. Additionally, they are keeping an eye on five legislators from Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and hope to gain support from one member of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Legislators from the Grand Alliance were asked to stay overnight at a hotel in Patna, with AIMIM and BSP members also invited to ensure all were present for the voting on Monday.

For the five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar, six candidates are in the fray, with the RJD fielding its current MP, Amarendra Dhari Singh. The remaining candidates are from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the Janata Dal (United) and MLA Nitin Naveen.

Concerns Over Cross-Voting Amid Election Preparations

During the election preparations, rumors circulated that four out of six Congress legislators were missing, raising concerns about potential cross-voting. Former state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh visited the hotel to assess the situation, asserting, "All four legislators are at my residence. There are no issues within the Grand Alliance, and we are fully prepared to win the Rajya Sabha seat. The NDA should be worried; we have heard that 20 of their legislators are missing."

These comments emerged as all parties geared up for a tough contest in the Bihar assembly. The RJD and its allies are focused on keeping their legislators united until the voting takes place. Meanwhile, Yadav's announcement regarding Kerala indicates RJD's intent to expand its influence by aligning with the LDF for the upcoming assembly elections.