Ranchi, Nov 16 (IANS) As the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday released its fourth list of candidates for the Assembly elections, state Food and Supply Minister Saryu Rai indicated he might go against the party line for putting his ticket on hold.
Moreover, he may challenge Chief Minister Raghubar Das himself in the elections.
"I am standing with an empty bowl and seeking a ticket," Rai said at a press conference in Jamshedpur.
The BJP has not declared its candidate for the Jamshedpur West seat. Rai is the sitting MLA from there.
The 68-year-old senior BJP leader emerged as a political figure after the Jai Prakash Narayan-led JP Andolan against Indira Gandhi in 1975. He is an old friend of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and was one of the petitioners in the multi-crore fodder scam.
Despite being a part of it, Rai has criticised the government many times.
"I will take a decision on Sunday after meeting party workers. I will continue to raise my voice against corruption. I do not want the third Chief Minister of Jharkhand to go to jail," said Rai.
According to sources, Rai is preparing to file his nomination from the Jamshedpur East Assembly seat from where Das is the BJP candidate.
