Nitish Kumar vs Sharad Yadav: JD(U) parallel meets today, split indicated

Rival JD(U) factions headed by Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav have called parallel meetings on Saturday indicating that the party may be heading for a split after the disintegration of the Grand Alliance in Bihar.

A national executive committee meeting of the JD(U) has been called at its national president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's official residence here tomorrow where the party is expected to formally accept the invitation to join the BJP-led NDA.

Loyalists of Sharad Yadav, who has opposed joining hands with the BJP, are also organising a programme, 'Jan Adalat' at S K Memorial hall.

The two meetings make it clear that battle lines within the JD(U) are drawn and the party may be heading for a vertical split. JD(U) principal secretary general KC Tyagi has, however, maintained that there is no split and that Yadav "has left voluntarily".

The party was originally set to hold its national executive in Delhi on July 23-24 last. But the date was changed to August 19 and the venue was shifted to Patna.

"Jan Adalat ka Faisla ... Mahagatbandhan Jaari hain (Jan Adalat's decision ... The Grand Alliance is continuing)" the posters say. They carry photographs of Sharad Yadav, JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar Ansari and former state minister Ramai Ram, who was suspended by Bihar JD(U) chief Basistha Narayan Singh.

The posters by rebel JD(U) leaders led by ousted party parlimentary board chief Sharad Yadav make clear their stand against Kumar's decision to sever ties with the Grand Alliance partners -- RJD and Congress

Sharpening the attack on Nitish Kumar, Ansari asserted in Delhi that those opposed to the Bihar chief minister represented the "real" JD(U), and added "Nitish represents BJP Janata Dal".

Asked about the agenda of the national executive meeting, Tyagi said it would put its seal of approval on the party's Bihar unit decision to break away from the Grand Alliance and form a government with BJP "in the interests of the state".

Kumar had made it clear that he had walked out of the Grand Alliance of the JD(U), RJD and Congress as per the wish of the party's Bihar unit.

Asked about "Jan Adalat" which would also be attended by Yadav, Tyagi said it is not an official programme of the party.