PATNA: A day before the JD(U)-RJD-Congress's ' Swabhiman rally ', there was embarrassment for the grand alliance of JD(U) and RJD when three of its influential figures joined the BJP on Saturday alleging "suffocation" in their parties .

Renu Kumari Kushwaha, former minister who represents Bihariganj in Madhepura district, and Dr Sunil Kumar, JD(U) MLA from Biharisharif in Nitish's home turf of Nalanda, are dominant party officials in their areas, particularly Renu who commands loyalty of a significant chunk of Kushwaha votes. BJP's gain would be significant as a consequence.

Renu was once Lok Sabha MP, and a three-term MLA. Sunil Kumar has represented Biharisharif thrice. In addition, RJD's former MLA from Baruraj in Muzaffarpur Raj Kishore Singh too joined the saffron fold.

Renu said her joining the BJP was "the call of justice". Sunil said he was disillusioned with CM Nitish Kumar's decision to snap the 17-year-old ties to the BJP and align with RJD. Braj Kishore said he has joined the BJP for "personal reasons". His son Arun Kumar Singh too followed his father to the BJP.

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Renu's husband Vijay Kumar Singh Kushwaha had joined the BJP during the 2014 parliamentary elections. Soon after, she quit the post of state industries minister, even though she remained in the party.

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Former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi attacked Nitish saying, "To save his government, he embraced Lalu under whose party's 15-year-rule Biharis migrated to various states for work. He also insulted Bihar when he aligned with the Congress under whose government more than 1,000 people lost lives during the 1989 communal riots at Bhagalpur."