The ruling Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday removed Satish Kumar as vice-president of its Bihar unit for “anti-party activities”.
Mr. Satish Kumar had criticised some senior leaders for convincing JD(U) president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to withdraw from contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
“Satish Kumar has been removed from the post of JD(U) State vice-president,” party chief spokesman and MLC Sanjay Singh said. He said Sanjay Mandal was removed as State organisational secretary for the similar reason.
Mr. Satish Kumar, a former MLA from Nalanda, was close to Mr. Nitish Kumar. He was credited with organising the ‘Chetna’ rally, the biggest ever by the Kurmi community, in Bihar in 1994. After the rally, Mr. Nitish Kumar was projected as a Kurmi leader, and he parted ways with Lalu Prasad. Mr. Satish Kumar was put in charge of the party in UP after the JD(U) decided to contest the Assembly polls.. Mr. Nitish Kumar addressed over six public meetings in UP. All of a sudden, the party withdrew from the contest.
