Ahead of his week-long visit to Britain Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday filed nomination papers for his re-election to the state legislative council for the fourth consecutive term. Mr. Kumar is also set to fly for Britain on March 6-7 and is to return on March 14.
In presence of a host of ruling NDA legislators chief minister Nitish Kumar who is running for his fourth consecutive term, filed his nomination papers for his re-election to the state legislative council. State BJP leaders and Deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, senior JD-U leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Vijay Choudhary, Ashok Choudhary and others were present on the occasion. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader and son of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, Santosh Kumar Suman and JD(U) MLC Khalid Anwar (for second consecutive term) too filed their nomination papers along with Mr. Kumar. Mr. Manjhi too was present on the occasion.
Earlier Election Commission had issued notification saying the biennial poll for 11 seats of Bihar Legislative Council will be held on March 21 with nomination papers to be filed by March 11. The candidates can withdraw their papers by March 14.
Out of 11 seats getting vacant, BJP has three seats of Mangal Pandey, Sanjay Paswan and Shahnawaz Hussain while, Congress holds only one seat of Prem Chandra Mishra. One member of the JD-U from legislative council Sanjay Kumar Jha was recently elected to Rajya Sabha and besides him, terms of party MLCs Rameshwar Mahto and Khalid Anwar too are coming to an end. Mr. Anwar will be seeking his election for the second consecutive term. Term of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader and son of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s son Santosh Kumar Suman too is getting vacant. Mr. Suman is currently minister CM Nitish Kumar’s cabinet in NDA government. Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s term too will be expired along with former chief minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi and her party leader Ram Chandra Purvey.
Meanwhile, chief minister Nitish Kumar is all set to fly to Britain for a week from March 6-7 to March 14. He would also visit Scotland and science centers in the foreign land to meet Bihari expatriates living in Britain and examine the science centers there with an eye to incorporate the concept at the APJ Abdul Kalam Science City, currently being built in Patna. The JD(U) leader who recently was elected to the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Jha is also likely to accompany Mr. Kumar on his foreign visit.
