Sharad Yadav keeps party leaders guessing over his move

Sachchidanand Jha

Patna : Former JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav, a Rajya Sabha member, who is upset with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s decision to resign as Grand Alliance (GA) chief minister on July 26, 2017, and forming government with NDA support the very next day that is July 27, is reportedly toying with the idea of floating a political party and stay with GA. Expressing his strong reservation over Nitish’s decision to join hands with NDA, Sharad had recently said the people’s mandate in 2015 assembly polls was not for this.

JD(U) Secretary General K C Tyagi has termed it as rumour but a leader considered close to Sharad Yadav said that he is meeting old friends and discussing political situation and flaoting a party could be one of the options. Sharad Yadav had recently said that he would continue to be part of coalition of secular parties. He is also unlikely to join the NDA government at the centre as minister.

Tyagi said that Sharad Yadav had parted ways with RJD chief Lalu Prasad over the issue of corruption and will never go with him. Lalu, on the other hand, has invited Sharad Yadav to RJD’s August 27, 2017, rally at Patna. Two dissident JD(U) Rajya Sabha members are also in touch with Sharad Yadav. The JD(U) has five members in Rajya Sabha and two in Lok Sabha.

CM Nitish Kumar, who is also JD(U) national president, had on July 31, 2017, said that the decision to quit the GA was taken by the party’s executive committee which he had to abide by. Nitish had said the JD(U) is registered with Election Commission as a regional party and going against the decision of the state unit was not possible for him. The party has also shifted its national executive meeting on August 19 to Patna.