‘No clue how Jha got ticket’

The LJP leader also said he has now initiated an internal inquiry to find out how the ticket landed in Jha’s hands. ‘‘We have started an inquiry to investigate who got him the ticket,’’ he said.

Jha had fought the polls from Madhubani. Having failed to get a ticket from the RJD, he managed to get an LJP ticket. Paswan today said that politicians jumping parties in search of a ticket is nothing new in Bihar.

Asked how the LJP accommodated a politician who was associated with rival party RJD and was a close aide of RJD MP Sadhu Yadav, he said: ‘‘In an election, if a person doesn’t get a ticket from one party, he goes to another party. This happens in Bihar.’’

Ironically, Roop Narayan Jha, who was also with the RJD at one point of time, went on to win the seat from Madhubani, while Jha came a poor fourth. Roop Narayan Jha, sources said, is among the 17 MLAs who have now given letters of support to JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar.

Paswan, who admitted that he had canvassed in Jha’s area, however, said he can not recall ever meeting Jha. On the scam uncovered by The Indian Express, he said: ‘‘What has happened is good. There was looting going on there,’’ he said.

Madhubani is in the heart of Mithilanchal and dominated by Mithali Brahmins. The LJP has been giving tickets to Brahmins in that area. ‘‘We would have given a ticket to a Brahmin,’’ Paswan said.