JD-U returns to NDA after 4 yrs

Jitendra K Shrivastava & Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Patna/New Delhi, August 19

The Janata Dal (United) led by Nitish Kumar today formally joined the NDA, returning to the BJP-led alliance four years after it snapped 17-year-old ties with the saffron party.

The decision was announced after the JD-U passed a resolution at a meeting of the national executive chaired by party president Nitish Kumar in Patna.

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Nitish had resigned as the Bihar CM on July 26, dumping the grand alliance with the RJD and Congress to stitch a new alliance with the BJP and was sworn in as the CM for the sixth time.

A disgruntled Sharad Yadav, one of the founding leaders of the JD-U, skipped the meeting. Instead, he attended the ‘Jan Adalat Sammelan’ organised by another faction of JD-U in Patna. He said he was with the grand alliance in public interest.

“Sharadji has every right to put forward his disagreement but should not go with Lalu (Prasad Yadav). If he attends RJD’s anti-BJP rally on August 27, we will lose faith in him,” JD-U spokesperson KC Tyagi said.

He said all 71 legislators, 16 panels and chiefs of other states except Kerala were with Nitish. In a veiled attack on Sharad Yadav, Nitish Kumar said: “One needs two-third majority to split a party. If anyone has the strength and dares to break my party, they should do it.”

Lalu, not one to remain silent, said: “Nitish should now contest on the BJP symbol. The original JD-U is with Sharad Yadav.”

Meanwhile, an expansion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers appears next on the cards.

If the current formula based on the strength of the allies is adopted, the JD-U would land up with a Cabinet position. It has two MPs in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha, including Sharad Yadav.

However, given Nitish Kumar’s importance in Bihar and his expected contribution in building positive perceptions for Modi, his party may get a better deal —  “two ministers of state along with a Cabinet portfolio”. 

Besides, with AIADMK factions finalising a “merger” in “a day or two”, there is speculation that the combined AIADMK may also board the NDA juggernaut and could be considered in the  reshuffle. 

Accommodating the JD-U or AIADMK should not be a problem as many ministers currently hold dual charge.