JD (U) suspends 21 party workers over anti-party activities

Suspension of 21 members after removal of Sharad Yadav as parliamentary leader shows that all is not well within JD (U).

Janata Dal (United) state president Vashistha Narayan Singh on Monday suspended 21 party members from their primary memberships for allegedly involving in anti-party activities.

Bihar JD(U) president ordered suspension from primary membership of these leaders including former minister Ramai Ram, ex-MP from Sheohar Arjun Rai, former MLA Raj Kishore Sinha and ex-MLC Vijay Varma, according to a statement issued by JD(U) state general secretary Anil Kumar.

Ramai Ram and Arjun Rai were prominent faces who participated in Sharad Yadav's three-day 'Samvad Yatra' which ended on August 12.

The suspension of JD (U) members comes two days after the party appointed RCP Singh as the new parliamentary leader replacing senior leader Sharad Yadav in the wake of 'anti-party' activities. While defending the decision, Senior JD (U) leader, Vashishtha Narayan, said that Sharad Yadav was not removed from the party, but, replaced with RCP Singh.

Calling it a necessary step, Narayan said that ''if a person indulges in anti-party activities it has to be condemned unanimously.''

Suspension of 21 members after removal of Sharad Yadav as parliamentary leader shows that all is not well within JD (U). Last week Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar was suspended from its Parliamentary party. The rift was seen widening as Sharad Yadav made his opinion public about the new alliance between JD (U) and BJP. He descibed the new alliance as "betrayal of the people's mandate".

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also virtually shut the door on any reconciliation with rebel leader Sharad Yadav, saying Yadav is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party's nod.

Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of party national executive in Patna on August 19 which is likely to decide Yadav's fate in the party.

(With agency inputs)