The process of expelling JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, who has adopted a rebelling attitude against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has begun. Party General Secretary K.C. Tyagi has finally taken formal steps to expel senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav from the party and the Upper House.
Tyagi has expressed the wish and also the warning of the party to Sharad Yadav through a written letter, which was received by Yadav on Saturday. The letter read that “You have decided to join the RJD rally held in Patna on 27 August at your own will. Therefore it will be assumed that you are voluntarily leaving the party. Party General Secretary KC Tyagi further wrote in the letter that since JD(U) broke its alliance with RJD and joined hands with BJP to form the new government in the state, Sharad has been deliberately violating the party principles and is going against the party rule.
Tyagi also pointed out that despite being in Patna, Sharad Yadav skipped the national executive meeting of JD(U) held in the state’s capital. In his statement to the Times of India Tyadi said “Despite being in Patna, Sharad Yadav didn’t take part in party’s national executive meet and if he goes on to take part in a political rally convened by the rival party, it will be considered that he has voluntarily given up the party membership.”
Party General Secretary also explaining the rules said that according to the Clause 2 (a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, if any party member voluntarily quits the party, his membership in the upper house can be disqualified.
JD(U) has been directly and indirectly warned the rebel party leader Sharad Yadav many times. He has also indicated his expulsion from the party when he had hosted a meeting attended by 14 opposition parties in Delhi naming it the ‘Save India’s Composite Culture’. This meet organised by Sharad was being regarded as a platform to discuss his further moves to form a new political equation in Bihar. The meet up 14 opposition parties including RJD and Congress was also seen as another step taken to strengthen the opposition unity which currently is the sole desire of Congress so that if all the opposition party unite as one unit it can together give a tough fight to BJP in the Lok Sabha elections due in 2019.
However, Sharad Yadav unmoved by the threats and warnings of JD(U) said that for him the grand alliance is still intact and he will take every possible step to keep it intact. He had issued a statement that the grand alliance between JD(U)-RJD-Congress was formed for five years with the mandate of the people, and he will continue with the alliance not breaking the faith of the mandate. Responding to this statement RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav extended his full support to Sharad and said that the real JD(U) is led by Sharad Yadav. Sharad also criticising the Nitish Kumar led government and his decision to join hands with BJP said that JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar is for the government only, whereas the JD(U) led by Sharad Yadav is for the people.
Sharad had earlier also got an indication from the party that strict action will be taken against him if he attends the rally. After his Save India’s Composite Culture meeting JD(U) said that the party does not have any problem with the moves of rebel leader Sharad Yadav and is also ready to answer all his queries but if he crosses the red line to share the stage with corrupt opposition politicians than he will be expelled from the party and will also have to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat. Responding to this Sharad had said that “Those who think I will be cowed down by threats or can be won over by offering allurements such as ministerial posts, should know I have never bothered about such things in my entire career.”
Lalu’s anti-BJP rally is scheduled to be held on Sunday and despite all the warnings Sharad does not seem to take back his decision of attending the rally. In such situation, all eyes are on Bihar as 27 Aug may bring another change in the political equation of the state.