Sharad Yadav set to float a new party by midfeb

PATNA: Rebel Janata Dal(united) leader Sharad Yadav is set to float a new party by mid-february, almost two months after he was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha for indulging in anti-party activities, an official of the faction said on Thursday.

“We are awaiting the Election Commission’s clearance on the names we have suggested,” Arun Srivastava, Yadav’s close aide and general secretary of JD(U) (Sharad), said. “We have submitted three-four names with the EC — Samajwadi Janata Dal, Apana Janata Dal, Lok Tantrik Janata Dal, etc.,” he added.

A grand launch has been planned in New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, which will see the participation of all rebel leaders who parted ways with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar-led JD(U).

Kumar’s decision to tie up with BJP in July last year caused a split between the two as Yadav opposed the move and announced his support to Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. Yadav was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2016 from Bihar and his tenure was till 2022. Yadav has since been organising conferences across the country, called “Saajhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan”, which have been attended by leaders from almost all opposition parties.

The Yadav group made a representation before EC in August last year claiming they were the rightful heir of the party symbol.

The Kumar-led group made a counterclaim over the symbol by producing affidavits of support of all 71 MLAS and 30 MLCS from Bihar as well as two Lok Sabha and seven Rajya Sabha, majority of the national executive and national council members. The rebel group lost its claim over the arrow symbol in December after the panel rejected its petition.