Patna, July 9 (IANS) Political activity has intensified ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) projecting a united front in support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Abhishek Kumar.

Addressing the media in Patna on Thursday, Janata Dal-United National Working President Sanjay Jha said that there was no ambiguity within the alliance over the candidature and asserted that all NDA constituents would campaign together for the BJP nominee.

Sanjay Jha added that Abhishek Kumar is the NDA’s common candidate, adding that all five alliance partners are firmly behind him.

He said that leaders and workers from every NDA constituent party would participate in the nomination programme and subsequent campaign activities.

According to Jha, senior alliance leaders would also attend the public meeting following the filing of the nomination papers, and the election campaign would be conducted jointly.

The JD-U leader said that Abhishek Kumar had recently met former Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U President Nitish Kumar, who extended his blessings and best wishes to the BJP candidate.

Jha also added that the NDA remained united and said the state government was functioning cohesively under the leadership of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

Targeting the Opposition, Sanjay Jha questioned the role of the Congress in the Bankipur by-election and criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had little connection with Bihar and claimed that the Congress leadership was not focused on the state’s concerns.

Jha also questioned the cohesion of the Opposition INDIA bloc, asking which candidate the Congress was supporting in the Bankipur by-election and whether the alliance remained united.

He claimed that while the Opposition alliance had fragmented, the NDA was contesting the election with unity and coordination.

Responding to a query about Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav’s foreign visit, Sanjay Jha said the RJD had already fielded its candidate, and there was still time left before polling.

Taking a political swipe at the Bihar’s Opposition leader, Jha remarked that while Tejashwi Yadav would eventually return from abroad, the NDA had already begun its campaign in full strength.

The Bankipur Assembly by-election has become an important political contest beyond the vacancy itself, with both the NDA and the Opposition seeking to demonstrate organisational strength.

–IANS

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