Overview
- Sanjay Singh quit Jan Suraaj and joined the BJP in Munger on Wednesday, taking membership in the presence of the BJP’s candidate Kumar Pranay and pledging support to the NDA.
- His exit turns Munger from a three-cornered race into a head-to-head between the NDA and the RJD-Congress Mahagathbandhan, with the RJD’s Avinash Kumar Vidyarthi in the fray.
- Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said Jan Suraaj lacked strong leadership, and vowed to work for an NDA win by a large margin.
- The defection follows earlier withdrawals by Jan Suraaj nominees in Danapur, Brahmapur and Gopalganj, as party chief Prashant Kishor alleges BJP pressure on his candidates.
- Reports note Singh is a Dhanuk (EBC) leader and suggest his move could consolidate a key vote bloc in a constituency where first-phase polling is scheduled for November 6 and counting on November 14.