Unhappy JD(U) leaders mull expelling Nitish. Party to split?
Trouble seems to have befallen JD(U) Chief Nitish Kumar. Despite warnings from party members and even senior leaders, the Bihar CM decided to join hands with the BJP. Apparently some are now considering expelling Kumar from the party. Among the prominent leaders who are unhappy is Sharad Yadav, former party president. He's to go on a Bihar tour and meet party members.
12 state presidents have already protested alliance with BJP
"Twelve state unit presidents met Yadav recently to condemn the (BJP alliance). We are exploring legal and constitutional options," said former party general secretary Arun Srivastava. Srivastava was expelled this week for "anti-party activities"; he appointed an agent for Gujarat RS polls without consulting Kumar.
If the party breaks, what's next?
A decision is likely at the party's national executive meet on August 19. If the two factions- supporters of Kumar and loyalists of Yadav- decide to formally break, they will have to approach the EC to make it official. Who will keep the party name and symbol will then be taken up for discussion.
Can it be a repeat of the AIADMK "two-leaves" row?
When AIADMK split, the EC put its "two leaves" symbol on hold and assigned new symbols to both factions. If that happens here and Kumar floats a new party, it might "bring to surface the grave resentment that already exists against party workers", rebels say.
