JD(U) faction may expel Nitish
NEW DELHI : A group of Janta Dal (United) leaders are considering expelling their president Nitish Kumar, sources in the party said on Thursday, threatening to bring into open a growing resentment against the Bihar chief minister who dramatically dumped the party’s old alliance partners last month to realign with the BJP.
Former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, the second-most prominent face in the party, is regarded as the head of the faction unhappy with Kumar’s decision. Yadav was set to begin on Thursday a three-day tour of Bihar in which he will meet members of the party.
“Kumar’s unilateral decision to walk out of the Mahagathbandhan violates the mandate of the 2015 assembly elections. Twelve state unit presidents met Yadav recently to condemn the decision. We are exploring legal and constitutional options (on expelling Kumar as the party president)”, former party general secretary Arun Srivastava said.
Srivastava was suspended on Tuesday for his “anti-party activity” in appointing an election agent for the recent Rajya Sabha by-polls in Gujarat without consulting the party president.
The fight between MLAs loyal to Kumar and those backing Yadav is likely to lead to a showdown at the party’s August 19 national executive meeting.
Kumar’s hold over the party rank and file is expected to be tested at the Patna meeting of the party national executive on August 19. The rebel faction, sources said, have planned sharp attacks against Kumar over his decision to align with the saffron party.