Nitish yet to tackle dissident JD(U) leaders

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Although he has sorted out his RJD problem by resigning as the chief minister of Grand Alliance (GA) government on July 26, 2017, and forming government with the help of NDA on July 27, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is yet to set his own house,  JD(U), in order as former JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav is still sitting on the opposition bench in the Rajya Sabha.

If that was not enough the lone JD(U) MLA in Gujarat Chhotubhai Basava on August 8, 2017, said that he had voted for Congress candidate Ahmad Patel in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls held on the day . This despite the fact that Nitish has of late been quite annoyed with the Congress party. Two more JD(U) Rajya Sabha members are not happy with Nitish’s decision to form government with the NDA support breaking the Grand Alliance comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress in Bihar.

Do these developments indicate Nitish is lossing his grip over the party despite holding the post of JD(U) national president or he himself wants things to drift further to get rid of some recalcitrant elements in the party?   Nitish, by all indication, is in complete control over the party. He is, however, not in a mood to accomodate Sharad Yadav in Narendra Modi cabinet as he wants to accomodate a comparatively lightweight in the Union Cabinet. Nitish’s complete sway over the party was evident when he resigned as the GA chief minister on July 26 and joined hands with the NDA. He had recently also declared that no political party or political combination has the ability to defeat PM Narendra Modi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The problem with Sharad Yadav is that he can’t side with RJD chief Lalu Prasad either, who is still facing trial in four fodder scam cases besides being convicted in one fodder scam case a few years back. The CBI recently made Lalu a named accused in land of hotel scam along with his wife and former CM Rabri Devi and his younger son and former Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav. Sharad Yadav also does not have a base in Bihar.