Former JD(U) MP Arjun Ray Joins BJP

Arjun Ray, a former MP from the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ray was a close follower of the late Sharad Yadav, who was the president of JD(U) and the convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) until 2013.

Ray opposed Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of JD(U), when Kumar decided to join the NDA with the BJP in 2013 and again in 2017.

Ray even formed a new party called the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) with other JD(U) leaders who were against Kumar's decision.

The LJD later merged back with the JD(U) in 2022.

Ray's decision to join the BJP is seen as a move to strengthen the party and counter Prashant Kishor's efforts to gain support from the Yadav community in the upcoming Bankipur assembly bypoll.