Suspended BJP legislator joins Nitish Kumar

He said there is no respect for honest leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party

Suspended BJP legislator Avanish Kumar Singh Thursday joined Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United, and said he will contest the Lok Sabha polls as a JD-U candidate from Motihari.

Avanish Kumar Singh joined the JD-U along with hundreds of his supporters in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"I have joined JD-U to strengthen the hands of Nitish Kumar who is trying hard for development of Bihar," Avanish Singh said.

Avanish Singh said there was no respect for honest leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party.

According to a BJP leader close to Avanish Singh, he was unhappy and angry with the BJP for the last six months due to the style of functioning of some party leaders.

In February, the BJP suspended two legislators, including Avanish Singh, for choosing to back Nitish Kumar and not the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and for anti-party activities.

Avanish Singh, who represents Chiraia in East Champaran district, praised Nitish Kumar for Bihar's development and dared senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi to take action against him.

Sources in the JD-U said the other suspended BJP legislator, Rana Gangeshwar Singh, was also likely to join the JD-U soon.

Yet another BJP legislator, Vijay Mishra has already declared his intention to join the JD-U and has praised Nitish Kumar on many occasions.