Patna: A fresh wave of rebellion has hit the Janata Dal (United) ahead of the elections, as leader Gopal Mandal announced on Wednesday that he would contest from the Gopalpur constituency as an independent.
Despite his decisive move against the party leadership, Mandal offered conditional allegiance to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “We consider Nitish Kumar our leader if he wins,” Mandal stated.
Blame and Denied Audience
Mandal stated that his grievances stem from a protest he staged for four hours outside the Chief Minister’s residence on Tuesday, where he was ultimately denied a chance to meet the CM. He claimed this was because certain senior JD (U) leaders were present.
He was quick to assign direct responsibility for his ticket being withheld. Mandal alleged, “There are three or four leaders close to the Chief Minister who are responsible for the cancellation of his ticket.”
The controversy deepened as Mandal linked the cancellation to an internal rift over the CM’s family. He alleged that his consistent support for the entry of Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, into active politics was met with disapproval by senior JD (U) functionaries, leading directly to his exclusion.
Mandal argued for the young leader’s induction, stating that “after Nitish Kumar, there is no leader in the party who can save the party, so Nishant should enter politics.”
Defying Rivals and Declining Alliance
In his announcement, Mandal dismissed the official JD (U) nominee from Gopalpur, Bulo Mandal, who replaced him, with a confident jab. “Those to whom the party has given Bulo Mandal’s ticket will not be able to stand against him. Bulo Mandal will vanish into thin air,” he claimed.
Mandal also confirmed that he had been approached by the Grand Alliance with an offer but firmly rejected it, asserting his commitment to running exclusively as an independent. When asked if the cancellation was due to several viral videos circulating about him, he denied the reports, stating, “No, there’s no such thing.”
The leader concluded his address with a highly controversial comment regarding gun ownership. Asked if a previous statement about carrying a gun led to his ticket cancellation, Mandal responded, “We always carry a gun. Suppose I am threatened, and I have a gun in my hand, I will start giving it away,” implying a readiness to use the weapon in self-defense.
