No BJP membership, only support for Samrat government on terms: Banshi Dhar

Patna: (ABN) Banshi Dhar Borjwasi, who won the Bihar Legislative Council elections as an independent candidate for the second consecutive time, has denied reports of joining the BJP, clarifying that he has only supported the Samrat government and has not taken formal membership of the BJP. Speaking to the media on Wednesday after meeting the acting Chairman of the Legislative Council, Ram Bachun Rai, he said that he has supported the government on his own terms. This clarification by Banshi Dhar Borjwasi comes at a time when the Jan Suraj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and other opposition parties of the India Alliance have demanded the expulsion of his and independent councilor Rahul Raj's membership. The opposition alleges that both candidates joined the BJP after winning the elections as independents, which is a violation of the anti-defection law. A written complaint has also been filed with acting Chairman Ram Bachun Rai in this regard. After meeting the acting Chairman, Banshi Dhar rejected any talk of threat to his membership, stating that he has not received any notice from the Legislative Council so far. He had come to seek the Chairman's blessings after winning the election. He could not get time for a meeting earlier due to election commitments, so a formal meeting was held today. When asked about the opposition's complaint, he said that it is people's work to speak, let them speak. The opposition needs some cause or other to do politics. He said that it is the Chairman's job to decide the matter of his membership and this issue should be left to him.

Banshi Dhar said that Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary honored him by calling him. During the meeting, he raised the problems and demands of teachers before the Chief Minister, and was assured that they would be resolved. Announcements on this matter are also expected from the government soon. On this basis, he has decided to support the government in the House. Borjwasi, who was elected as an independent candidate for the second consecutive time from the Taregt Graduate constituency, said that he is ideologically with the NDA, but he has not obtained formal membership of the BJP. He has also set his terms for supporting the government. He said that the NDA government will remain in Bihar for the next four years, and the decision of whether to stay with the NDA or not will be taken when the time comes. He further said that if the government does good work, there is no harm in supporting it. He has supported the government, so he has no fear of anything.

It is worth noting that last week on Saturday, Banshi Dhar Borjwasi and Rahul Raj, who was elected as an independent candidate from the Saran Teacher constituency, reached the state BJP office in Patna. Photos of both holding BJP membership cards also emerged. Both had also attended a BJP meeting held under the presidency of Samrat Choudhary. At that time, a statement issued by the state BJP mentioned that both had obtained formal membership of the party, but later the party denied this, saying that both had only supported the government and had not taken party membership. Based on this issue, opposition parties including the Jan Suraj Party and RJD have complained to the acting Chairman of the Legislative Council, demanding the expulsion of both members and declaring them disqualified. Now, acting Chairman Ram Bachun Rai has to make a final decision in this matter.