Bihar centric political outfits like RJD, JD (U) and even LJP had eyed Jharkhand to bolster their political prospects, but their effort is turning out to be damp squib. Not only leaders, MLAs but even party presidents of Bihar regional parties are deserting their parent party in search of greener pastures. The latest leader to leave Bihar regional party-RJD is State president of party and four times MLA Annapurna Devi. Annapurna considered being close to RJD national president Lalu Prasad joined BJP on Monday and said to be strong contender from Koderma parliamentary segment.

Annapurna Devi in 1998 after the death of her husband Ramesh Prasad Yadav, a minister in the Rabri Devi government joined RJD and since then remained as Lalu’s loyalist serving Koderma as RJD MLA for four terms.

RJD State general secretary, Kailash Yadav said, “In RJD party is bigger than persons. There will be no effect on RJD after Annapurna leaving the party. Though Annapurna has left RJD the party base is intact with the ideology of Lalu ji which is for scheduled castes, tribal, minorities and other weaker section of societies.”

Yadav claimed that party increasing base will be visible after 2019 general election and year end assembly elections. Though RJD general secretary is claiming that RJD will emerge as big player in State politics after 2019 assembly elections, once RJD had a role of king maker in Jharkhand politics as it used to have five to six MLAs and even had MPs from Palamu and Chatra respectively.

Earlier, JDU State president Jaleshwar Mahato left the JDU to join Congress in December last year. Similarly, in the month of October last year, Ram Vilas Paswan party LJP Jharkhand unit president Baban Gupta too left LJP to join BJP.

Both Annapurna Devi and Jaleshwar Mahato after bifurcation of State in 2000 as remained as face of RJD and JDU respectively, not only as MLAs but being part of government when RJD and JDU were part of coalition government in State.

Jaleshwar Mahato remained as JDU MLA from Baghmara Assembly segment during 2000 to 2009 and said to close to Bihar Chief Minister and JDU national president Nitish Kumar.  Sources said that Jaleshwar left the JDU as he was unable to adjust with State NDA leadership. Sources said that Jaleshwar Mahato was having differences with present BJP MLA from Baghmara Dhullu Mahto and criticised him for the 'mafia Raj' in Baghmara under the BJP government.