New Delhi, Mar 23: Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Kanhaiya Kumar has been named as the party candidate from the constituency of Begusarai for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. The announcement comes a day after the students' union-cum-political activist was left out by the Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD-Congress combine.

At the executive committee meeting of the CPI held earlier in the day, the decision to field Kanhaiya from Begusarai seat was finalised, said the party's Bihar secretary Satyanarayan Singh. The decision on the number of constituencies the CPI will contest in the state, however, is yet to be finalised. Mahagathbandhan Seals Seat-Sharing Pact in Bihar For LS Polls 2019: RJD 20, Congress 9, RLSP 5, HAM 3; Check Constituency-Wise List.

CPI national secretary D Raja had reached out to the Mahagathbandhan on multiple occasions over the past couple of weeks, seeking a ticket for Kanhaiya from Begusarai.

While reports had earlier claimed that the RJD was considering to field Kanhaiya, a CPI leader, on its ticket, the party decided not to considering the caste equations.

Sources, affiliated to news agency PTI, said RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav was against giving the student leader a seat as he believes that his caste, Bhumihar, would not go down well for his party, which is traditionally anti-upper caste.

Also, the RJD feels the only Left party having significant presence and support base in Bihar is the CPI(ML).

Notably, the RJD is fielding Tanveer Hussain from Begusarai, whereas, the BJP candidate from  the seat is Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 23, 2019 10:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).