JD(U) nominates Karpoori Thakur’s son, two others

THE JD(U) on Friday decided to nominate senior leader Ramnath Thakur, son of former chief minister and socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, Prabhat Khabar editor-in-chief Harivansh and Bihar State Women’s Commission chairperson Kehkashan Parbeen for the Rajya Sabha.
The party, which decided against giving another Rajya Sabha term to N K Singh, Sabir Ali and Shivanand Tiwari, has reportedly asked them to prepare to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav, who hinted Thursday about sending “new faces” to the Rajya Sabha, made the announcement on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur.
Ramnath Thakur, who was a minister in the Nitish Kumar government between 2005 and 2010, had lost the last Assembly elections. Thakur’s nomination holds importance in playing up Karpoori symbolism, more so after the BJP also celebrated the social leader’s birth anniversary, claiming to be “real heir” of Thakur legacy.
The JD(U) seemed to do the balancing act in nominating Bhagalpur Muslim leader and Bihar State Women’s Commission chairperson Kehkashan Parbeen after having denied another term to Sabir Ali, a vocal Muslim face of the party. Sources said the party has offered Ali the Lok Sabha ticket from East Champaran, currently represented by BJP leader Radhamohan Singh.
The party also sprang surprise by dropping former bureaucrat N K Singh, who has been reportedly asked to contest from Banka. Singh may have to face competition in his party for contesting from Banka with Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh also willing to contest from there.