The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) on Saturday passed a resolution at its national executive committee meeting to formally join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
As a part of the NDA, the JD(U) is expected to get one or two berths in the Union Cabinet.
At a parallel meeting, the rebel Sharad Yadav-led faction of the party launched an attack on Mr. Kumar for breaking away from the grand alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and joining hands with the BJP.
“The JD(U) national executive meeting, chaired by party president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved a resolution to become part of the NDA,” principal general secretary and JD(U) Rajya Sabha member K.C. Tyagi said, denying that there was any split in the party following the differences between Mr. Kumar and Mr. Sharad Yadav.
“The meeting was attended by all 71 party MLAs, 30 MLCs, presidents of 16 of the 19 State units, and all office-bearers of the party committees appointed earlier by Mr. Kumar with the consent of Mr. Sharad Yadav. So how can there be a split in the JD(U)?” he asked, addressing journalists after the meeting.
He also asserted that it was the Bihar unit’s decision to walk out of the grand alliance government and join hands with the BJP to form an NDA government in Bihar.
“BJP president Amit Shah, during a recent meeting with our party president Nitish Kumar, had urged him to bring the JD(U) into the NDA. The national executive committee approved it, and now we have become part of the NDA,” Mr. Tyagi said.
Asked whether the JD(U) would act against Mr. Sharad Yadav for holding a separate meeting of party leaders, Mr. Tyagi, who used to be a close confidante of Mr. Sharad Yadav, said the party “would wait till August 27, the day of the RJD’s rally here, before initiating any action against Mr. Sharad Yadav.”
At a parallel ‘Jan Adalat’ meeting, Mr. Sharad Yadav launched a thinly veiled attack on Mr. Kumar. “I formed the party but some people are asking me to get out of my home. I went to attend the JD(U)’s national executive committee meeting but they didn’t allow me to participate. They told me that I don’t belong to the party,” he said.
Suspended JD(U) Rajya Sabha Member Ali Anwar and State party leader Ramai Ram, too, addressed the meeting, and took potshots at Mr. Kumar for joining hands with the BJP.
Later, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said the Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) was the real JD(U) and “Nitish Kumar should now contest elections on kamal [lotus], the BJP’s symbol”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Amit Shah welcomed the JD(U)’s decision to formally join NDA. “I welcome the JD(U) decision to join the NDA as this will not only strengthen the NDA but will also start a new era of development and growth in Bihar,” he said.
