Sharad Yadav says part of Grand Alliance; Nitish may remove him

Patna: Cracks within the JD (U) became wider on Thursday after senior leader Sharad Yadav said he was still part of the Mahagathbandhan. 

Yadav’s statement comes at a time when speculation is gaining that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may remove him for “indulging in anti-party activities”.

Sharad Yadav arrived in Patna on Thursday and will remain in Bihar for the next three days. During his Bihar tour, he is likely to hold series of public meetings to understand what people feel about Nitish Kumar’s decision to break Grand Secular Alliance. 

"Nitish Kumar has broken the trust of 11 crore people. The mandate was in favor Mahagathbandhan and I am here to interact with people to know what they feel about the issue”, JD (U) senior leader Sharad Yadav told reporters in Patna on Thursday.

Sharad Yadav is currently leading a faction of leaders in JD (U) who are upset with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to leave the grand secular alliance and join hands with the BJP. 

“The two parties had contested assembly elections against each other on different manifesto but later formed a government. This has happened for the first time in last 70 years. His (Nitish Kumar) decision has created a crisis”. Sharad Yadav said in Patna on Thursday.

Insiders told this newspaper that JD (U) national president Nitish Kumar may take disciplinary action against Mr. Yadav during the national executive meeting scheduled to be held on August 19.

Sources also said that Sharad Yadav may form his own party along with other dissident leaders of the JD (U) after his expulsion. 

None of the JD (U) legislators including those who were considered close to Sharad Yadav was present when he arrived at Patna airport on Thursday. However, Ramai Ram was the only leader from the party who was seen welcoming him along with RJD workers. Ramai Ram was sidelined by the JD (U) after he had lost the assembly elections in 2015.  

“Party has nothing to do with his Bihar trip. This is his personal tour”, JD (U) spokesperson Niraj Kumar said.

Sources close to Sharad Yadav hinted that he may also attend RJD’s ‘BJP Hatao Desh Bachao’ rally scheduled to be held on August 27.

During the assembly elections in 2015, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav along with Congress party had formed a Mahagathbandhan to keep BJP out of power in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar had resigned from his post on July 26 after Lalu Yadav repeatedly ignored his demand for public explanations from his son Tejashwi Yadav against whom the CBI had registered FIR in connection with corruption cases.

The move had surprised everyone including the RJD and Congress party which had formed the grand alliance just twenty months earlier hoping to rule Bihar for the full term of five years.