Striking back at party’s former president Sharad Yadav, the JD(U) on Monday suspended as many as 21 people from the primary membership of the party. Blamed to be indulged in anti-party activities, these people including some senior leaders and former Ministers have sided with Sharad and many of them accompanied him during his three day Samwad Yatra.

Those suspended included senior leader and former Minister Ramai Ram, former MP and Minister Arjun Ram, Rajkishore Sinha and Vijay, both former MlAs and some party functionaries. The action has been taken by Bihar JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh following a signal from party chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

None of them however, is a legislator as no MlA or State functionary came out in his support. 

During his three day tour of some north Bihar districts Sharad was highly critical of Nitish and claimed that the Bihar CM was heading only the Sarkari JD(U) while he (Sharad) was leading the original JD(U). The rebel camp is also contemplating to approach the Election Commission for its recognition as national party saying Nitish camp has support only in Bihar. The Sharad camp claimed support of the 14 State presidents of the party. “We will claim the Election Commission that we are the real party,” said sacked JD(U) general secretary Arun Srivastava.

Nitish camp pooh poohed the claim saying that JD(U) was recognized by the Election Commission as a State party only in Bihar. Nitish himself made this assertion and added that the Bihar JD(U) had taken unanimous decision to severe ties with the Mahagathbandhan and join hands with the BJP.

With these developments it is amply clear that there is no place for Sharad, one of the founders of JD(U) in that party. The senior leader, who was given a warm welcome by the RJD leaders here and was accompanied by RJD workers throughout his tour, is likely to join lalu Prasad’s bandwagon. Sharad’s meeting at various places too had been organized by lalu’s party though no senior leader of the party was publicly seen with Sharad.

JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said that 21 people have been suspended for their anti party activities. But he stoutly denied that his party was concerned over Sharad’s move and his Samwad Yatra. “Sharad is an international leader and he fully knows his base and popularity,” he said sarcastically.

Others suspended from the party include: Dhaniklal Mukhiya, Siyaram Yadav, Bindeshwari Singh, Israil Mansuri, Mithilesh Kushwaha, Niranjan Rai, Deokant Rai, Jaikumar Singh, Dharmendra Yadav, Raman Singh, Kamal Das, Devendra Sah, Virendra Azad and others. Most of them were office bearers on block and panchayat level of JD(U).