Senior Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav struck a defiant note after the party’s Bihar unit chief, Bashishtha Narain Singh, removed 21 people said to be loyal to the former from the party.
Refusing to comment on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr Yadav said he was preparing for the August 17 programme of the combined opposition parties, termed Saanjha Viraasat (Syncretic Traditions) to be held in New Delhi.
“The people removed today are old members of the JD(U) and are in fact the real JD(U),” he said.
Speaking to a television channel, Mr Yadav said the sarkari (official) JD(U) would soon find themselves tired of expelling people.
NCP MP to attend
Sources said Tariq Anwar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)MP in the Lok Sabha from Bihar will join the opposition programme on Thursday. The decision comes despite both NCP MLAs in Gujarat having voted for the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in the State.
Meanwhile, Mr. Yadav's New Delhi residence saw a steady stream of opposition leaders including Congress leader Ahmad Patel, who narrowly won in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls because of a single vote cast in his favour by JD(U) MLA Chhotubhai Vasava. A bouquet presented by Mr. Patel occupied pride of place in the drawing room.
CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury also visited Mr. Yadav for discussions on the August 17 meet. “This programme has nothing to do with the JD(U) and it’s decisions; it was decided three months ago,” Mr Yadav told The Hindu.
State units backing Nitish, says Tyagi
A day after the Sharad Yadav faction of the Janata Dal (United) claimed it was the “real” party, with “14 JD(U) State units” supporting it, party general secretary K.C. Tyagi said that four out of the five recognised State units were with Nitish Kumar.
“Mr. Nitish Kumar was made party president in the Patna special session of April 23, 2016. Only five State units have recognition in the party: Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Jammu and Kashmir. The others had not completed the membership process and thus are not recognised State units,” he said.
“We respect the Sharad Yadav of yesteryears, who resigned from the Lok Sabha. He is not corrupt. But, unfortunately, he has decided to go with those who are with dynasty and corruption.”
