Bihar Chief Minister Nitesh Kumar's Janta Dal (United) has expelled 16 party leaders, in a bid to quell rebellion in the party.
The JD(U) charged its leaders with anti-party activities and violations of the party’s ideology.
Among those expelled is Narendra Niraj, the sitting JD(U) MLA from Gopalpur. All the sacked leaders had failed to secure party tickets for the upcoming Bihar elections.
The expulsions come after the rebel leaders filed independent nominations for the Assembly polls.
Rebels to fight against NDA
The ousted leaders are now set to contest against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which the JD(U) is a part of.
The JD(U) statement reads, "As per the direction, you are expelled from the party by suspending you from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect for being involved in anti-party activities and working against the party's ideology and organisational conduct in the Bihar Legislative Assembly General Elections 2025."
The ruling NDA is locked in a three-way race with the opposition Mahagathbandhan bloc and the Jan Suraaj party.
NDA seat sharing
In Bihar’s 243 constituencies, both the JD(U) and the BJP have agreed to contest 101 seats each.
As for the other NDA partners; the Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV) will fight in 29 seats, while the Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), will contest six seats each.
The NDA is yet to announce its chief ministerial face for Bihar, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan has picked Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Tejashwi Yadav for the top post.
The Two-phased Bihar Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and 11. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.
The Election Commission on Sunday said that it will deploy 470 officers as its observers for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar and seven assembly bypolls to ensure a level playing field in the electoral contest.
