JSP founder Prashant Kishor Wednesday said his party will not field Muslims in seats where RJD candidates are from the minority community, seeking a similar commitment from the Tejashwi Yadav-led party. In Gaya, Kishor, while responding to a question on division of Muslim votes, said, “If RJD is so concerned about Muslims, they should declare they would not field Muslim candidates in seats where we field Muslims. I unilaterally announced that JSP would not field Muslim candidates against RJD’s Muslim candidates. If RJD really wants to defeat BJP, let them do so.” The JSP had earlier announced that it will field Muslim and EBC candidates proportionate to their population. Muslims constitute around 17% of Bihar’s population with a high concentration in Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar and Purnia; and sizeable numbers in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Rohtas, Nalanda, Patna, Munger and Bhagalpur. The EBC population constitutes 36 per cent of the state’s population, including 10.5 per cent from among the Muslims. An RJD spokesperson, however, said: “Our top leadership does not give much importance to a party that tries to get attention on one pretext or another.” Tejashwi Yadav had recently said “there had been too much discussions about a party which does not have an MP or an MLA”. Kishor, who seemed to have lost momentum in midst of SIR exercise and Cong-RJD combine’s recent Voter Adhikar Yatra, has been renewing efforts to draw attention in the run up to elections.
