JD(U) suspends 21 Sharad Yadav loyalists for anti-party activities
What's the story
The consequences of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's decision to rejoin BJP-led NDA have started to trouble the Janata Dal (United) party.
The party is likely to split ahead of its formal return to NDA.
JD(U) has suspended 21 of its members loyal to former party President Sharad Yadav for indulging in anti-party activities.
It is being speculated Yadav would be suspended soon.
Know more!
Information
JD(U) would be the 29th party joining NDA
Opposing Sharad Yadav, the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) faction would reportedly announce its decision to rejoin NDA on 19 August. It is likely that Yadav would be suspended from the party on the same day. Nitish could be appointed NDA's co-convenor at the national level.
Suspended Members
Who all have been suspended from JD(U)?
Former MPs, Ministers, and MLAs are among those suspended for "anti-party activities", claimed the official JD(U) statement.
JD(U) Bihar President Bashistha Narayan Singh suspended former Minister Ramai Ram, former MLA Raj Kishore Sinha, former MP Arjun Rai, former MLA Vijay Verma.
They belong to northern Bihar districts; the decision to suspend them was taken after they supported Sharad Yadav during his Samvad Yatra.
Rajya Sabha
RCP Singh replaces Sharad Yadav in Rajya Sabha
On 12 August, JD(U) replaced Sharad Yadav as its leader in Rajya Sabha with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's trusted aide, RCP Singh.
Yadav was removed as he continued to oppose JD(U)'s decision to join hands with BJP in Bihar.
On 11 Aug, JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar Ansari was suspended for attending an opposition parties' meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi.
Sharad Yadav
The Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) faction
Yadav-led JD(U) group has called for a national convention on 17 August in Delhi.
He is likely to discuss several issues related to JD(U) joining NDA, including the party's election symbol, two days before Nitish Kumar formally returns to the national coalition.
Sources said Yadav, who has been vocal about the split in Bihar's Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), may launch his own party soon.
The Rift
Differences between Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav
Yadav was unhappy with Kumar snapping ties with Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress in Bihar to form a new government in July.
He also claimed he remains a part of the Mahagathbandhan with Congress and RJD.
He said, "The JD(U) is not just Nitish Kumar's party, but also mine."
He added the real JD(U) was with him while Kumar's was a "sarkari" government.
Plans
What is Sharad Yadav up do?
The Sharad Yadav faction is reportedly going to take action against Nitish Kumar on a bigger level as his decision to walk out of the Mahagathbandhan was a "betrayal" of Bihar's 11 crore people.
His group also claimed the support of 14 JD(U) state presidents out of 17.
His camp is also being supported by RJD leader Lalu Prasad in Bihar.