GAYA: State agriculture minister and seven-time winner of Gaya town assembly seat Prem Kumar has thrown his hat in the ring to contest the 2019 parliamentary election from any constituency of Magadh division, including Nawada, which is presently held by Union minister Giriraj Singh. There is a buzz in the political circles that Giriraj may be shifted to Begusarai. Former JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar is tipped to be the candidate of the grand alliance from Begusarai.The agriculture minister told this newspaper on Wednesday that he has served the state long enough and now he wants to serve the country from a larger platform. “It is now for the party leadership to take a call in the matter. I will fully comply with the decision of the leadership,” Kumar added.Asked about his favourite parliamentary constituency, the BJP’s EBC face in the state said he would prefer any seat in the Magadh division. There are four parliamentary seats in the Magadh division. One seat, Gaya, is reserved for the SC candidates. The other three seats – Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Nawada – are all represented by NDA candidates.Asked about how Arshad Mohsin, a resident of Gaya facing criminal charges, managed to meet him posing as an advisor of fruit and vegetable dealers of Kuwait and wearing typical Arabic robes, the minister said he had already lodged a complaint with the police and the man would be brought to book soon.“I will be more careful in future and follow the protocol meant for visitors from abroad. Only visitors coming through official diplomatic channels will be allowed entry,” Kumar said.

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