Prasad vs Shatrughan contest likely in Patna

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 20

Bihar’s Patna Sahib Lok Sabha segment appears to be bracing for an interesting contest. While reports from the BJP indicate that the party may field Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat, the Congress is going all out to woo rebel BJP member Shatrughan Sinha for the segment.

Sections of Bihar Congress today claimed that Sinha will join the party in Patna on Friday and reveal his parliament poll plans. Sinha has personally not opened his cards and is learnt to be in touch with the RJD also.

A senior Congress leader, however, indicated that Sinha’s candidature from Patna Sahib had been sealed as part of the grand alliance talks, where the RJD and Congress are leading discussions with other smaller parties.

The alliance is also likely to be announced on Friday in Patna. It was earlier to be unveiled on March 17.

Shatrughan Sinha, for his part, has been evidently looking for a space in the Opposition, having joined two anti-BJP rallies, including the latest one which West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee hosted in the state this January.

The actor-turned-politician has been more than caustic in his tweets against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has repeatedly attacked the PM on Rafale. Sinha has represented Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha in 2009 and 2014. 

He, however, fell out with the BJP midway into PM Modi’s tenure just like his colleague from Bihar Kirti Azad, who also joined the Congress recently. Sinha, 72, was Health and Shipping Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government and has been in the Rajya Sabha before as well.