Nitish joins NDA, but no action against Sharad
JANATA DAL DIVIDED Two factions hold parallel meets in Patna, clash outside CM’s home
The Janata Dal (United), led by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, embraced the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, four years after it walked away from the alliance in 2013.
A resolution to rejoin the NDA was unanimously adopted at the party’s national executive meeting at the JD(U) president and chief minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence here on Saturday. “The decision was taken following a request by BJP national president Amit Shah,” said JD(U) principal spokesperson KC Tyagi. This paves the way for the party to join the Union cabinet as well.
The party is likely to get two berths despite having only two members in the Lok Sabha, in addition to seven in Rajya Sabha after two of its members – Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar – distanced themselves from the party for joining hands with the BJP in the state on July 26.
Tyagi, however, refused to comment on the developments. “It is up to the Prime Minister and our president to take a decision on joining the Union cabinet,” he said. He said no post had been offered to the JD (U) in the NDA. The party executive also ratified Kumar’s decision to walk away from the grand alliance (GA) on the issue of corruption in the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Amid reports of division, Tyagi denied any split in the party. “Where is the split? Sixteen state presidents of the party attended the national executive meeting, despite the claim that the rival group had support in 14 out of 22 states where JD(U) has units. All 71 MLAs and 30 MLCs were there, so where is the split?” wondered Tyagi, alleging that rumours to this effect were spread by those who had lost their foothold in the party.
Interestingly, even while Tyagi claimed that there was no division, party workers owing loyalty to Sharad Yadav were clashing with the Nitish camp right outside the meeting venue.
And the Yadav faction held a parallel meeting, christened Jan Adalat, at SK Memorial hall elsewhere in the state capital, where Yadav, who was removed as JD (U)’s Rajya Sabha leader, said the party was his, and that the grand alliance in Bihar is intact.
“I formed the party and some people are telling me that this is not my home. People are raising questions over my intention. I wanted to attend JD (U)’s national executive committee meeting but they didn’t allow me to participate and said that I don’t belong to their party,” he said.
“We promised to continue this alliance for at least five years. The public gave us opportunity. The manifesto is our commitment for five years. The people of Bihar vested faith in us. I am not happy with alliance breaking,” he said.
Sources said his faction plans to approach the Election Commission to stake claim for the party’s “arrow” symbol.
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I wanted to attend JD (U)’s national executive committee meeting but they didn’t allow me to participate and said that I don’t belong to their party