Rift in JD(U) over aligning with BJP: Sharad Yadav not kept in loop by Nitish, say senior leaders

Nitish Kumar once again took over as CM Bihar with BJP's support on Thursday.

Pic courtesy: ANI

Delhi: A section of Bihar's ruling JD(U) is unhappy about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to walk out of the Grand Alliance and form a new government with the BJP.

JD(U) Rajya Sabha MPs Ali Anwar and MP Veerendra Kumar met senior leader Sharad Yadav here amid reports that he was also displeased with Nitish's action.

Reacting to Nitish's resignation yesterday and his aligning with former ally the BJP, Anwar said, "We including Sharad ji had no idea that such a big development would happen overnight. We are surprised."

Anwar, who said his "conscience does not support" Kumar's action, told reporters that Yadav agreed with their "strong" views against the JD(U)-BJP alliance.

Yadav, he said, told them he would take a formal stand on the issue after speaking to other leaders.

 However, Anwar said his reservations over the new coalition should not be seen as a rebellion against the party and he would present his views within the organisation.

"He (Yadav) had called us to his residence. He agreed with our views against the alliance with the BJP," Anwar said.

Anwar claimed that Nitish's decision to dump the RJD and ally with the BJP was not discussed within the party.

On the other hand, another JD(U) leader Arun Kumar said "Sharad ji is concerned over Nitish Kumar's decision," as per ANI.

Meanwhile, Kerala JD(U) president MP Veerendra Kumar expressed 'shock' over Nitish's decision and said the state unit would not follow CM into the NDA fold.

He appealed to all JD(U) MPs to "denounce the decision and quit the party".

The party, however, has little at stake in Kerala.

Interestingly, Yadav was missing at the swearing-in ceremony event today of Nitish in Patna.

He also met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today. 

At the same time, Yadav criticised the BJP-led Central government in the morning.

“Fasal Bima Yojana is big failure as farmers are not aware about insurers but premium deducted from their loans,benefit goes to only insurers,” he tweeted.

“Amongst others Fasal Bima Yojana is another unsuccessful scheme of the government through which only private insurance companies being benefitted,” his another tweet read.

Fasal Bima Yojana is big failure as farmers are not aware about insurers but premium deducted from their loans,benefit goes to only insurers — SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) July 27, 2017

Amongst others Fasal Bima Yojana is another unsuccessful scheme of d Govt through which only private insurance companies being benefitted. — SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) July 27, 2017

Sources close to him said he wanted the three-party Grand Alliance, also comprising the Congress, to continue, as per PTI.

Earlier today, Nitish once again took over as CM of Bihar with BJP's support, leaving the Opposition's unity in tatters and raising questions over its ability to counter the saffron party in the 2019 General Elections. 

A little more than 12 hours after 66-year-old Kumar resigned to break ranks with his allies - Lalu Yadav's party and the Congress - he was back in office after being sworn in by Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Raj Bhawan.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi was also sworn in and would be the Deputy CM. 

The deft political manoeuvres by JD(U) chief left the Opposition stunned as he joined hands with friend-turned-foe-turned-friend BJP.

The two parties were in alliance for 17 years until 2013, when Kumar walked out of the NDA fold after Narendra Modi was made the BJP's campaign committee chairman for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. 

The Governor has asked Kumar to prove his majority on the floor of the House tomorrow.

(With PTI inputs)