Patna, June 16: The fate of LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Bihar depends on how Congress votes tomorrow even as the CPI(M) has decided to abstain from voting.
The RJD-LJP combine has been depending on Congress having 10 MLAs and three Left parties accounting for nine MLAs to see its two candidates through as it has eight votes less than required.
The CPI has issued a whip to its three MLAs to support Paswan.
CPI-M Politburo member R S Pillai told a press conference that the lone party MLA Ramdeo Verma would abstain from voting in tomorrow’s biennial elections to five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar.
Pillai criticised the RJD-LJP combine for allegedly joining feudal forces and opposing land reform.
The CPI(ML), having five MLAs, has imposed a condition on Paswan to secure its support.
–Agencies