Lok Sabha Polls 2019 | Shatrughan Sinha likely to contest from Patna Sahib on RJD ticket: Report

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Shatrughan Sinha is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2019 from Patna Sahib, his own constituency, on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), News18 Hindi quoted sources as saying. Sinha, who has been vocal against own government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has recently met ailing Lalu Prasad and praised his son, Tejashwi Yadav, calling him "Bihar's face" and "its future".

The actor-turned-politician said he has a familial bond with Prasad as both had stood by each other during good and bad times. Prasad is lodged at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) hereafter conviction in multi-crore fodder scam cases.

"Tejashwi is a very good and talented boy. I believe he is the face of Bihar and its future," Sinha told reporters praising the RJD heir apparent.

Though Sinha had denied any political talks with the RJD chief, the timing of the meeting has great political significance as Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday made a public appearance with Congress leader Ahmad Patel, RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha and HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in Delhi, indicating the cobbling together of the "mahagathbandhan" ahead of 2019 general elections.

There has been speculation that Sinha, whose attack on his party has sharpened in recent times, might be denied a ticket in the 2019 elections and in such a situation he would probably enter the fray from Patna Sahib from Prasad's party.

Popularly known as 'Bihari Babu', Sinha has on several occasions made it clear that the "location (of the constituency) will be the same, even if the situation changes."

Sinha, who has represented his native Patna Sahib as a BJP MP in two consecutive terms, praised the RJD saying in the last few years, the way RJD performed across the country, particularly in Bihar, showed there was a wave of sympathy among the people for Prasad.

"The BJP is my friend, Lalu ji is my friend and all other parties are also my friends. But before that, I am of the people of the country," Sinha said.   

(With PTI inputs)