New Delhi: Two days after the NDA announced its seat-sharing formula for Bihar, there is a firestorm in the JD(U), clearly indicating the lack of consultation within the party. JD(U) MP from Bhagalpur Ajay Mandal has written to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, asking permission to resign from his parliamentary position.
Apart from him, a four-time JD(U) MLA from Gopalpur in Bhagalpur district, Gopal Mandal, staged a demonstration outside the CM’s residence, demanding to contest the Gopalpur seat for a fifth time on the party symbol, even though JD(U)’s alliance partners have not yet announced a candidate for Gopalpur. Kumar was later removed by the police.
Sitting MP Ajay Mandal, in his letter to Nitish Kumar, has expressed strong displeasure over the ticket distribution process and accused the organisation of overlooking local leadership. On Sunday, the party had finalised its seat-sharing with NDA alliance partners. The BJP as well as the JD(U) are contesting on 101 seats each.
“Honorable Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar-ji, please grant permission to resign from the post of Member of Parliament. Despite being a local MP, my advice was not sought in any way regarding ticket allocation. Therefore, there is no justification for me to continue in the post of MP,” Mandal said in his post on X.
आदरणीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री @NitishKumar जी, सांसद पद से त्यागपत्र देने हेतु अनुमति प्रदान कीजिए।
स्थानीय सांसद होने के बावजूद टिकट देने में मेरी किसी भी प्रकार की सलाह नहीं ली गई है। इसलिए मेरा सांसद पद पर बने रहने का कोई औचित्य नहीं रह जाता है।@ZeeNews @ZeeNewsBihar @aajtak pic.twitter.com/STEjQOYsfr
— Ajay Kumar Mandal (अजय कुमार मंडल) (@AjayMandalMPbgp) October 14, 2025
Ajay Mandal also said that he had been serving the Bhagalpur area in various organisational and public roles for almost 20-25 years.
“This time, during the ticket distribution process, despite being the sitting Member of Parliament, my advice has not been taken, nor have I been consulted in any way regarding ticket allocation. In such a situation, I do not see any justification for continuing in my post,” he said in the letter to the CM.
He alleged that some organisational decisions made in the past few months do not bode well for the party and its future. He said tickets were being given to those who have never served in the party.
According to sources, many within the party are upset that “party leaders and workers who have been working tirelessly for years have been ignored and some senior leaders have hijacked the entire process”.
“Many party leaders and workers who are being denied tickets want to raise their concerns with Nitish-ji and are not being allowed. Some people are trying to harm the party and which is why many leaders are publicly expressing their displeasure,” said a party functionary.
Senior party leader and working president of JD(U) Sanjay Jha claimed that the Opposition has been planting baseless stories as they are aware of being “wiped out in the electoral field”.
“Honorable Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-ji is fully prepared to enter the electoral fray. He is personally keeping an eye on every single detail. He is directly communicating with everyone. The leaders of the NDA’s constituent parties, especially the senior BJP leaders in Delhi, are also in talks with Chief Minister-ji. Whatever is being decided is being finalised only after discussions with Chief Minister-ji,” said Jha, requesting the people of Bihar to ignore rumours.
While the BJP has officially declared a list of 71 candidates for the Bihar elections, the JD(U) is yet to issue it formally, though some candidates have been allocated party symbols.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: In 1st list for Bihar, BJP fields both deputy CMs; assembly speaker Nand Kishore Yadav denied ticket
