Fernandes loyalist expelled for meeting rebels

Shiv Kumar is expelled from the party for participating in a meeting convened by rebels to revive the defunct Samata Party.

JD(U) general secretary Shiv Kumar, a loyal supporter of George Fernandes, was on Monday expelled from the party for participating in a meeting convened by rebels to revive the defunct Samata Party.

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According to JD(U) spokesman Shambhu Shrivastwa, party president Sharad Yadav also expelled Kumar from the primary membership of the party.

Fernandes supporters in the JD(U) had gathered in the Capital on Sunday to revive the Samata Party that was headed by Fernandes before he merged it with the Yadav-led JD(U) in 2003. Accusing Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of "stifling" internal democracy in the JD(U) after they took over the reins of power, the rebels pledged to rejuvenate the Samata Party with inspiration from Fernandes.

However, no action could be taken against Fernandes, who is the party MP from Muzaffarpur, as he himself did not attend the rebels' meet.