Patna: BJP nominee Surya Kumar Sharma (Arvind Sharma) filed his nomination papers on Thursday in the presence of CM Samrat Choudhary, the party’s state president Sanjay Saraogi, deputy chief ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with senior NDA leaders of the state, for the May 12 byelection to the legislative council seat vacated by Mangal Pandey after his election to the lower house in Nov last year.Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha’s son, Deepak Prakash, was earlier expected to be named the NDA nominee. However, RLM sources said Deepak would instead be a candidate for a full six-year term in the council election likely in June. Nine seats in the Bihar legislative council are set to fall vacant in June. Given the number of opposition MLAs, their unity could potentially secure them only one seat, while NDA candidates are poised to win the remaining eight.Saraogi said the BJP central leadership named Sharma, who has served the organisation in various capacities. He was made the BJP headquarters incharge in Patna when Samrat Choudhary was the party’s state president.Political observers, however, believe the BJP, by fielding Sharma, a Bhumihar by caste, has attempted to send two messages simultaneously — first, to promote dedicated leaders from within the organisational ranks; and second, to consolidate support from the Bhumihar community, which is reportedly upset over the sidelining of former deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha. Sharma is set to win unopposed as he remains the sole candidate in this election.Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, chief minister Samrat Choudhary, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and the national leadership of all NDA partners for nominating him as their candidate, Sharma said, “I will strive to live up to the trust reposed in me and will always work to strengthen the party.”
