Kanhaiya Kumar to contest from Begusarai, to face BJP's Giriraj Singh

NEW DELHI: Firebrand youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar will contest from Bihar's Begusarai on Communist Party of India (CPI) ticket.

In Begusarai, Kumar will be facing BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj who was earlier shifted from Nawada as the seat went to Lok Janshakti Party under the seat-sharing formula.
Belonging to the same caste as Singh, Kumar is likely to pose a tough challenge as Begusarai has been a stronghold of the CPI and has earned the epithet — 'Moscow of Bihar'.
Moreover, being a Bhumihar himself, Kanhaiya may cut into votes of the dominant caste besides getting support from a cross-section of other social segments since it is being speculated that the Grand Alliance comprising Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other smaller parties may support him.
Singh was left sulking after the Nawada Lok Sabha seat, which he represents, went to NDA ally LJP.
"Compulsions of seat-sharing may be there. But I wish to underscore that no other union minister from Bihar may have to give up his sitting seat," the veteran BJP leader said.
"This is despite the fact that I have worked so much to nurture my constituency," he added.
As per the announcement, the BJP and the JD(U) will contest 17 seats each and six seats were allotted to the Lok Janshakti Party.
Read this story in Bengali