Patna: Muzaffarpur MP Ajay Nishad says the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership told him that he got over six lakh votes in the previous general election not on his own merit, but because of ‘upar wale log’ (party’s top leadership).
The two-time MP from Bihar had joined the Congress Tuesday, a step that came after he quit the BJP out of “self-respect”.
Nishad had joined the Congress party in presence of senior leaders including Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Congress chairman of media and publicity Pawan Khera.
Before joining the Congress, Nishad submitted his resignation to BJP president J.P. Nadda and wrote on social media: “Respected JP Naddaji, shocked by the betrayal of BJP, I resign from all posts and primary membership of the party.”
Respected @JPNadda ji, shocked by the betrayal of @BJP4India, I resign from all posts and primary membership of the party.
आदरणीय @JPNadda जी, @BJP4India के द्वारा छल किये जाने से छुब्ध होकर मैं पार्टी के सभी पद के साथ प्राथमिक सदस्यता से इस्तीफ़ा देता हूँ।@BJP4Bihar
— Ajay Nishad (@NishadSri) April 2, 2024
Nishad told ThePrint that the BJP was deceiving itself. “I have been an MP from Muzaffarpur two consecutive times. In the last election, I was one of the MPs who won with the highest number of votes in Bihar, but this time the party gave the ticket to someone who had come from another party and whom I had defeated by more than 4 lakh votes in the last election. The party expressed confidence in him this time,” he said.
Nishad was referring to Raj Bhushan Choudhary, whom the BJP has chosen to field in his place. Choudhury was a Vikassheel Insaan Party candidate in 2019 and had lost to Nishad by over four lakh votes. In 2014, Nishad had defeated Congress’ Akhilesh Prasad Singh by 2.22 lakh votes.
“After not getting the ticket from the BJP, I spoke to the state president of the party and national leaders. They said that in the survey conducted by the party in Muzaffarpur, my feedback was not found to be good, hence the ticket was not being given,” Nishad said.
“When I told them that I had got more than six lakh votes in the last election, they said the votes you got were not because of you, but because of ‘upar wale log’. Self-respect is everything for me. I then spoke to my supporters, who suggested that I join the Congress and fight the polls. After this, I contacted the Congress high command and mentioned about joining the party,” he explained, adding that he was “grateful to the Congress for reposing confidence in me”.
“The party high command will now take further decisions. The decision on ticket will also come in two-three days. We will enter the elections with full strength. I have full confidence that the people of Muzaffarpur will support me.”
When asked about Nishad joining the Congress, Bihar BJP leader and state minister Krishnanandan Paswan termed the decision as “suicidal”.
“Changes keep happening in the party from time to time. This is the need of the hour. The party wanted to give a bigger responsibility to Ajay Nishadji, but he did not show patience. He should have trusted the party leadership,” Paswan told ThePrint.
“I used to work as a labourer myself, but I was dedicated to party work. The party gave me a ticket and made me contest the elections. I became MLA four times and am also a minister. It is very important to have faith in the party.”
Nishad, however, told ThePrint that he had no information about the BJP’s plans for him. “I did not resign immediately. I spoke to senior party leaders, but did not get any help. Then I left the party,” he said.
While Nishad won the Muzaffarpur polls in 2014 and 2019 on a BJP ticket, his father Jai Narain Prasad Nishad had been the MP from the seat four times.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: ‘Should release scorecard’ — RJD miffed as Nitish orders review of ex-deputy Tejashwi’s decisions