Patna: Even as the notification was issued on Friday for the first phase of elections to 121 seats out of the 243 in the Bihar Assembly, Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav got a shot in the arm when three influential JD(U) leaders deserted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's camp and joined the RJD in the presence of party supremo Lalu Prasad.

Former JD(U) MP from Purnia Santosh Kushwaha, who met Lalu Prasad before joining the RJD, said, “The JD(U) under Nitish Kumar is no longer the same as it used to be. It has become directionless and rudderless.”

Others who joined the RJD on Friday include former MLA Rahul Sharma, Ajay Kushwaha (LJP-R) and Chanakya Prakash.

“Nitish is no longer functioning as the Chief Minister. It’s the select people from the BJP in New Delhi who are governing Bihar throug

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