JD-U to contest against Congress in MP Lok Sabha bypoll

The JD-U, which allied with the Congress for the Bihar assembly polls, will contest against the party and the BJP in the by-election to the Ratlam Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, it was announced here on Monday.

Polling in the Lok Sabha constituency will take place on November 21. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP member Dilip Singh Bhuria in June.

At a press meet of non-Congress, non-NDA parties, Vijay Haari of the Janata Dal-United was named as the joint candidate.

The JD-U candidate will be supported by the Gondwana Ganatantra Party, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), CPI, Rashtriya Samanta Dal and the Bahujan Sangharsh Dal.

"There is undeclared emergency in the country. Both the Centre and the state governments are taking lands from farmers and giving it to multinational companies," state JD-U chief Govind Yadav said.

"Because of the government's policies, there is increasing unemployment, price rise and corruption. The Vyapam scam, and irregularities in educational institutions and government jobs is now known to all. The Congress has also been unable to perform its role as the main opposition," he said.