Umesh Kushwaha

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

The BJP and JD(U), partners in Bihar's ruling NDA, are at odds after a Legislative Council poll.

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha objects to the BJP welcoming back independent Rahul Raj, who beat the ruling party's official nominee. Kushwaha asked why the BJP was rushing to take Raj back, given he had been kicked out of the party for six years. He wants the party's leaders to revisit how Raj returned.

JD(U) lost both council seats to independents, and Kushwaha did not explain the specifics of Raj's expulsion or return.

News India Xtra@newsIndiaxtra

Two independent MLCs from Bihar, Bansidhar Brijwasi and Rahul Raj, have switched to the BJP, and JDU, its NDA partner in the state, has expressed unease. State JDU chief Umesh Kushwaha pointed to BJP leaders who were expelled and then taken back within 15 days.

Both seats were contested by JDU as part of the alliance. The BJP maintains that the pair only offered support and never formally joined.

A planned joint press meet by Abhishek Jha and Anand Pushkar on Monday was called off after talks with JDU leaders and CM Samrat Choudhary.