Lalu, Nitish opt out of Bihar polls candidature

Patna : Incumbent Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as well as his arch rival and former chief minister Lalu Prasad has decided not to enter the poll fray in the coming Bihar Assembly elections.

Announcing the list of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nominees for the third and fourth phase of Bhiar polls, RJD supreme Lalu Prasad on Monday said Rabri Devi will contest from Raghopur and Sonepur constituencies.

He said it was done in conformity with the ?people?s demand? and added, ?I am sure she will have people?s support in both the constituencies, where she will emerge victorious.?

For the Banka parliamentary constituency by-polls, Prasad nominated former Union minister Jaiprakash Narain Yadav to take on Putul Devi, widow of independent MP Digvijay Singh.

?We offered Putul ji to contest on our party symbol but she refused. So we decided to field Jaiprakash Narain Yadav as our official nominee,? Prasad said.

A former Bihar chief minister and Union minister and sitting MP, Prasad has decided not to enter the poll fray.

RJD sources said that Prasad may return to state politics if the party manages to cobble up a majority collation, even if not absolute majority.

The party recently released its first list of 65 candidates for the first two phases of Bihar poll. The party is contesting for 168 seats, leaving the rest 75 of 243 seats in the state to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar has also made it clear that he will remain away from contesting the polls.

He is a member of the state Legislative Council and has stated that he will continue with this arrangement.

Bihar goes to polls in six phases from October 21.