Patna, August 21: Former JD(U) MLA Narendra Kumar Neeraj, also known as Gopal Mandal, was set to join the Congress party. However, he announced that the event has been postponed due to the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Political speculation surged after posters of his joining surfaced in Patna. Mandal stated that he was scheduled to join the Congress on Thursday but will now receive a new date for the event.
From 2005 to 2020, Mandal won the Gopalpur seat on a JD(U) ticket and was considered a close ally of Nitish Kumar. However, he was not given a ticket for the 2025 assembly elections. Following this, he contested as an independent candidate but faced defeat.
Despite the posters and Mandal’s statements, the Congress party has not officially confirmed his joining. Congress leader Asit Nath Tiwari mentioned that there is no formal information regarding Mandal’s inclusion in the party. He suggested that if Mandal were joining at the state headquarters, senior party leaders would typically be informed.
While the confirmation of his joining remains unverified, speculation continues to grow. Should he join, Mandal could provide the Congress with a prominent political figure in the Bhagalpur-Nawgachia region, where he has maintained a political presence for many years.
Mandal has often been in the spotlight due to controversial statements and unusual public incidents. His past controversies include an incident involving a pistol and another where he was spotted in undergarments on the Tejas Rajdhani Express.
Following the denial of a ticket for the 2025 elections, his relationship with JD(U) has deteriorated significantly. Despite losing the election, he remains politically active, frequently commenting on political and public issues.
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