JD(U) Sharad faction to hold party poll in March

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21

The Sharad Yadav faction of JD(U) today announced that the party would hold organisational elections on March 11.

It also listed out the names of interim office-bearers, including that of Chhotu Bhai Vasava as working president and Ali Anwar as one of the vice-presidents.

Yadav also released the list of presidents of party units in the states at a press briefing. Members of an ad hoc committee for Bihar — headed by former minister Ramai Ram — were also announced.

Leaders of the JD(U)’s Yadav faction had earlier approached the Election Commission staking claim to the party’s election symbol — Arrow. Today, Sharad Yadav said at the press conference that the group had produced 429 affidavits in support of its claim.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has also submitted affidavits of its MPs and MLAs in support of Kumar’s leadership. This faction has maintained that an overwhelming number of its party leaders are with Nitish Kumar and only a handful of them support Sharad Yadav.

The Kumar faction has also approached Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and filed a plea seeking disqualification of its rebel MPs — Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar.

In response to a question about a notice from the Rajya Sabha asking the two MPs to appear before the House Chairman, Yadav told reporters that his “lawyers were examining the matter”.

Sharad Yadav has come out against Nitish Kumar tying up with the BJP and joining the NDA. He has joined hands with the Congress and other Opposition parties.