Ashish Mandal Joins Congress, Father Calls JD(U) a Party of Intermediaries

Ashish Mandal, the son of former Bihar Legislative Assembly member Gopal Mandal, has officially joined the Indian National Congress, according to reports from local media. The move comes as the Mandal family repositions itself politically after years of association with the Janata Dal (United). In a statement, Gopal Mandal criticized JD(U) as a party that has become dependent on intermediaries. The Congress party welcomed the new addition, noting the potential to strengthen its presence in Bihar. No official reaction from JD(U) leaders has been released yet.