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Patna, Oct 18 (IANS) In a major political twist ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, four-time JDU MLA from Bhagalpur’s Gopalpur constituency Narendra Kumar Neeraj alias Gopal Mandal has filed his nomination as an independent candidate after not getting a ticket from the party.
Janata Dal United (JDU) has replaced Mandal with former MP Bulo Mandal as the official NDA candidate from Gopalpur.
Fearing a denial, Gopal Mandal had earlier protested on the streets of Patna, urging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider the decision – but to no avail.
On Saturday, Mandal arrived with a huge crowd of supporters to file nomination papers.
Later, while addressing a meeting, he became emotional and started crying bitterly.
Amidst sobs, he declared, “I will never leave Nitish Kumar” and raised slogans of “Nitish Kumar Zindabad”.
His emotional outburst made his supporters emotional and they also started raising slogans.
Gopal Mandal is known for his unusual activities, especially for making objectionable remarks against Bhagalpur JDU MP Ajay Kumar Manda.
Gopal Mandal also made serious allegations of corruption against Ajay Kumar Mandal. The latter responded by filing an FIR against him in Bhagalpur district, alleging that he was tarnishing their political and public image.
Meanwhile, in Sasaram, Snehlata Kushwaha, wife of NDA ally Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha, formally entered the electoral fray.
She filed her nomination papers before SDM Ashutosh Ranjan along with her husband and a large group of enthusiastic supporters.
Talking to the media, Snehlata Kushwaha said that her focus will be on development and public service.
Upendra Kushwaha expressed confidence that his candidature will bring a new wave of change in Sasaram area.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha has secured six assembly seats under the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement, one of which is contested by Snehlata Kushwaha.
This is his electoral debut in Bihar politics.
–IANS
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