Sharad Yadav's rebellion in JD(U): His reinvention or doom?
JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav has announced he still stands with the "Mahagathbandhan" despite Nitish Kumar's decision to break away. This came after JD(U) joined hands with the NDA . Claiming to be the "real" JD(U), he says the election symbol "arrow" belongs to him. This means Yadav faces losing his seat in the RS. But what could the exact implications of such a move be?
A brief history of the Sharad-Nitish split
Nitish quit the Congress-RJD-JD(U) 'Mahagathbandhan' and joined hands with BJP after allegations of corruption against RJD chief Lalu Prasad's family. Yadav slammed Nitish for betraying people's trust placed. He even undertook a rally in Bihar to understand voters' reactions to this "betrayal." He then rebuffed the party's National Executive meet. These acts led to his removal as the party's leader in RS.
The ongoings in the west didn't help Sharad Yadav's case
Meanwhile, in Gujarat, JD(U) wanted its lone MLA Chhotubhai Vasava to vote for BJP during the dramatic RS elections. However, Vasava voted for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel. This proved crucial as Patel got 44 seats and won the seat. Sharad Yadav had convinced Vasava, whom he is close to, to vote for the Congress. He later congratulated Patel for winning despite challenges.
What is the party chief's take on this?
Nitish has challenged Yadav's claims asking him to prove a three-fourths majority within JD(U) if he wishes to split it. Counting his numbers, he declared he had support of 71 MLAs, 30 MLCs, two LS members and seven of nine RS members. He questioned Yadav's support for the Mahagathbandhan when Lalu faces allegations of corruption himself; Yadav has repeatedly said he is against corruption.
What might this mean for Sharad Yadav?
As per Constitution's Schedule 10, if Yadav voluntarily renounces membership from JD(U), the party through which he was elected, he faces disqualification. Or Nitish can show documents proving Yadav's involvement in anti-party activities to remove him. Either way, Yadav will be removed from the RS.
The split might lead to Sharad Yadav's reinvention or doom
This split could mean the reinvention of Yadav, one of JD(U)'s founding members. Since Nitish replaced him as president, Yadav has faced marginalization within the party. Meanwhile, RJD has retained its voter base, so an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan might help Yadav come out of Nitish's shadow. But this is possible only if he shows the required numbers. We'll have to wait and watch.
