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Rumblings in JD(U) over Nitish’s ‘unilateral’ decisions
A section of leaders gathered at senior party leader Sharad Yadav’s residence to discuss possibilities of an alternative course of action.
A day after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar aligned forces with the BJP again, rumblings broke out in the Janata Dal (United), with a clutch of leaders gathering at senior party leader Sharad Yadav’s residence to discuss possibilities of an alternative course of action.
JD(U) leaders, aggrieved by Kumar’s decision, tried to persuade Yadav to take the lead to oppose the “several unilateral decisions” Kumar had taken without taking the party into confidence, sources said.
“Sections of party leaders are unhappy with Kumar’s decision. My individual view is that a decision to align with the BJP violates the mandate of the 2015 assembly elections to keep the BJP out of power in the state,” party MP Ali Anwar Ansari told HT.
The lone party MP from Kerala, Virendra Kumar was also present at the meeting, apart from party general secretaries Arun Srivastava and Javed Raza.
Yadav is understood to have told the leaders that he would speak to state party presidents and other workers over the next few days, before firming up his plans.
A group of JD(U) MLAs, particularly those belonging to the bordering “Kosi” belt, are said to be upset with Kumar’s decision to switch camps. These legislators include Virendra Yadav, who is said to be among the hopefuls for a ministerial post in the Bihar government.
As part of the unfinished agenda of the Bihar deal worked out between JD(U) and the BJP, the saffron party is also considering possibilities of offering a Union cabinet berth to sulking senior leader Sharad Yadav.
Moves are also afoot to accommodate Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, being wooed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad, as a minister in the Bihar government.
