Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) faction to move EC, seek recognition as new party

PATNA: Arun Kumar Shrivastav, a former JD(U) general secretary and close aide of Yadav, said they will file an application with the EC in a day or two and hold a convention after the results of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls were announced on December 18.

Among the names the new party will seek for itself in its application to the EC are Samajwadi Janata Dal and Loktantrik Janata Dal.

The Yadav faction had earlier announced that it will form a new party after the Gujarat polls, which it is fighting in alliance with the Congress, after its claim over the JD(U) poll symbol was rejected by the EC last month.

The EC had recognized the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led faction as the real JD(U) and accepted its claim over the poll symbol 'arrow'.

The rebel faction has challenged the EC decision in court.

Yadav was recently disqualified as a Rajya Sabha member after Upper House chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu agreed to his party's plea that he had "voluntarily given up" his membership by joining a rally of opposition parties in Patna in August.

His supporter Ali Anwar was also disqualified.

Protesting the decision, Yadav had said he would move court against it.