Independent candidates make Council poll in Gaya Graduates’ constituency complicated
Patna,(BiharTimes): With Sharim Alji, former Hindustani Awam Morcha leader and close aide of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi throwing hat in the ring as an Independent candidate the battle for the Gaya Graduates’ constituency has become more complicated.
While RJD has put up Puneet Singh, son of former minister Jagdanand Singh, as its candidate against the chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council Awadesh Narayan Singh of the BJP, Grand Alliance partner Congress has also put up Ajay Singh as its candidate.
HAM officially supports BJP candidate and Legislative Council chairman.
Ali, as an HAM nominee, had unsuccessfully contested the 2015 Assembly election from Belaganj constituency against RJD’s Surendra Yadav.
HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said Ali was expelled from the party a few months back and he has no locus standi in the party.
Sharim was appointed as the administrator of the Sunni Wakf Board by Manjhi during his tenure as the chief minister.
Interestingly, the Gaya unit of CPI has extended its support to Ali.
Needs to be noted that Sharim Ali has an excellent personal relationship with Jehanabad MP Arun Kumar, who was expelled from RLSP sometimes back.
If RJD is facing the problem, BJP candidate is also facing stiff challenge from another Independent candidate, Awadhesh Kumar Singh. If Sharim is a Muslim the second Independent is a Bhumihar.
