JD(U) withdraws from Palamu in favour of BJP

Ranchi, Mar 14 (UNI) Buckling under pressure from former Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari's resignation as MLA two days back in support of BJP candidate, the JD(U) today withdrew its candidate, on the last date of withdrawal, from the March 29 by-election to Palamu parliamentary seat.

State JD(U) president Jaleshwar Mahto announcing this here said the party had ''sacrificed'' the Palamu seat to defeat the UPA candidate in the fray.

Mr Mahto said Mr Jawahar Pawan, fielded by the BJP would be the only NDA candidate and they would put all effort for his victory.

The JD(U), which had been adamant in the past week over its assertion in the seat saying the party had mass support there, even annoyed its senior leader Mr Namdhari who had openly favoured the BJP saying he was doing so ''feeling morally bound'' by the NDA spirit.

On March 11 night, dealing a body blow to JD(U)'s prospect in the by-election, Mr Namdhari tendered his resignation as MLA saying he had no right to continue in the party which did not respect opinion that was ''good for common party interests''.

On March 12, the JD(U) fielded Jitendra Paswan as its candidate in Palamu terming it as a ''friendly contest'' forcing Mr Namdhari to revolt.

After putting in his paper to Speaker Alamgir Alam, Mr Namdhari termed his decision as ''irrevocable''.

Yesterday, the state JD(U) president also talked to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regarding the Palamu by-poll.

It was understood that the party leadership advised the state unit to withdraw its candidate for the sake of NDA's unity.

UNI