JD(U) expels Shivanand and 4 other MPs

 

New Delhi: Rattled by growing dissidence, the JD(U) on Thursday expelled four Lok Sabha MPs and senior leader Shivanand Tiwari, Nitish Kumar’s friend-turned-foe, who was earlier denied a Rajya Sabha renomination. The MPs expelled included two — Capt. Jainarain Nishad (Muzaffarpur) and Sushil Singh (Aurangabad) — who were effusive in their praise of BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav issued the expulsion order on Thursday as the party started preparing for the polls. 

Besides Capt. Nishard and Mr Singh, the JD(U) expelled Mangani Lal Mandal (Jhanjharpur) and Puranmasi Ram (Gopalganj). It earlier suspended Capt. Nishad, Mr Ram and Mr Mandal for anti-party activities. It didn’t specify any reasons for expelling the MPs.

Sources said the JD(U) decided to throw them out after coming to know of their impending induction into the BJP and RJD. 

While Capt. Nishad and Mr Singh are likely to join the BJP, Mr Mandal and Mr Ram are expected to switch to the RJD. 

Mr Ram was earlier trying to join the BJP, but was apparently unsuccessful.

Mr Tiwari, along with N.K. Singh and Shabir Ali were not renominated for the Rajya Sabha and were instead asked to contest the Lok Sabha elections. 

Since then Mr Tiwari was attacking Mr Kumar and warming up to the RJD.