LJP spokesman joins JD-U

Ruling JD(U) got a shot in arm with state Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) spokesman and a Congress leader today joining the party ahead of Maharajganj Lok Sabha by-poll.
LJP spokesman Shailendra Pratap Singh and Congress leader Gyandeo Mani Tripathi joined JD(U) in presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Bihar JD(U) President Vashist Narayan Singh gave membership of the party to the two at the party headquarters here.
The joining of the two is sure to give a boost to JD(U) in the Maharajganj bye-elections where a triangular contest between JD(U), RJD and Congress is on the cards.
Singh told reporters that he left Ram Vilas Paswan's party because the LJP is supporting RJD nominee Pranbhunath Singh in the Maharajganj by-poll.

He said Prabhunath Singh has always "suppressed" weaker sections of society and supporting such a person was not possible for him.

Singh and Tripathi hailed leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said they would work hard under his leadership in taking Bihar forward on the path of development.
Singh had unsuccessfully contested Assembly election from Amnour on LJP ticket. Tripathi had contested Legislative Council election on Congress ticket but lost.
The Maharajganj by-poll is slated for June 2. The bye-election was necessitated due to death of RJD's Umashankar Singh.
While JD (U) has fielded state Education minister P K Shahi, the Congress candidate is Umashankar Singh's son Jitendra Swami and RJD's nominee is Prabhunath Singh.