‘Asli JD(U) Sharad ki hai, Nitishji ki toh BJP(U) hai’, Congress’ take on Bihar’s politics

According to the Congress, Sharad Yadav is the real custodian of the JD(U).

New Delhi, August 17: The possibility of a split in Bihar's, Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), is reverberating in the political corridors of Lutyens' Delhi.

As JD(U) rebel leader, Sharad Yadav, was busy giving final touches to the "Sanjhi Virasat Bachao (Save Composite Culture of India)" meet in the national capital on Thursday morning, the Congress claimed that the JD(U) belongs to Sharad.

The grand old party, which is clearly backing the rebel leader, added that the political outfit headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is Bharatiya Janata Party (United) (BJP(U)).

"Asli JD(U) Sharad Yadav ki hai. Nitishji ki toh BJP(U) hai (The real JD(U) belongs to Sharad Yadav, Nitishji owns the BJP(U))," senior leader of the Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad, told reporters.

Since the time CM Nitish left the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to join hands with the BJP to form a fresh government in the state, the differences between Sharad and Nitish, the two senior most leaders of the JD(U), are out in the open.

The Grand Alliance was formed by the JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress ahead of 2015 Assembly elections in Bihar to fight against the might of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Grand Alliance formula proved successful as the three parties together won the elections with a massive mandate and subsequently formed the government in Bihar. However, the Grand Alliance government did not last for two years also as Nitish joined hands with the BJP after several corruption charges were levelled against the family members of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

While Sharad told publicly that Nitish had betrayed the faith of people of Bihar by partnering with the BJP, the Nitish camp of the JD(U) recently removed Sharad as its leader in the Rajya Sabha.

The Nitish camp of the JD(U) also suspended 21 members, including former minister Ramai Ram, on charges of anti-party activities after they backed rebel leader Sharad.

Thus the tussle to gain control over the JD(U) started with a big bang. While the Nitish camp of the party maintains that the JD(U) belongs to the CM, also the current party chief, rebel leaders say Sharad, the founder member of the JD(U), should head the party.

Along with the Congress, the RJD too is backing Sharad in his fight to control the JD(U) as its absolute leader. Recently, the RJD said that nobody can remove Sharad from the JD(U) as he is the founder member of the party.

The Sanjhi Virasat Bachao meet is seen as the Rajya Sabha member of Parliament (MP)'s show of strength and a clear message to the Bihar CM.

Several opposition parties attended the meet. Prominent politicians who graced the occasion were former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

OneIndia News