After its earlier plea was set aside, the Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal-United (JD-U) faction on Thursday again staked claim to the party symbol, asking the Election Commission for a month’s time to submit supporting documents. JD(U) general secretary Javed Raza has filed this plea before the EC.
“We have applied with the Election Commission again on Thursday for the party’s election symbol. Our previous application was not rejected but set aside by the Commission as it did not have the signature of Sharad Yadav,” JD(U) General Secretary Arun Shrivastav said on Thursday while talking to reporters.
“It will be clear on September 17 how much support Sharad Yadav has in the party. It is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and not Yadav who strayed from the party’s avowed position and betrayed it by joining hands with the BJP,” he said.
He said the party had requested the Commission for a month’s time to submit documents to prove the number of party members willing to come with their faction. “Except Bihar, all other State units are with Sharad Yadav. legally, the party is Sharad Yadav’s,” Shrivastav said. The JD-U led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claims it is the real JD-U.
The JD(U) leaders backing Kumar have claimed that an overwhelming number of popularly elected members of the party and its office bearers are with the Bihar CM, and Yadav enjoys little support. They had also submitted affidavits of the leaders supporting Kumar with the Commission.
In its application before the EC, the Yadav faction also registered its protest against its earlier decision, claiming it was based on “hyper-technical” ground and the Commission should have allowed them a hearing.
The rift in the party happened in July after Nitish Kumar split from the JD-U-Congress-RJD alliance to form a new government with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.