Sharad Yadav announces ‘parallel’ JD-U team

New Delhi: Even as the Rajya Sabha was set to take a decision on his membership, rebel Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav on Saturday announced elections to party posts on March 11 and released a list of interim office-bearers, including Gujarat leader Chhotu Bhai Vasava as working president and Ali Anwar as one of the vice-presidents.

It might be recalled that Mr Vasava was instrumental in getting senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel elected to the Rajya Sabha with his vote said to be the deciding ballot.

Both Mr Yadav and Mr Anwar, had rebelled against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to leave the Congress-RJD alliance in the state and join the NDA.  Mr Yadav has since then claimed that his faction was the original JD(U) and has approached the Election Commission claiming stake to the party symbol.  Also, he released a list of presidents of party units in states, including ad hoc members in Bihar unit, which would be headed by former minister Ramai Ram. The faction, led by Mr Kumar, has on its part submitted affidavits of its MPs and MLAs in support of Mr Kumar’s leadership. They maintain that an overwhelming number of its party leaders are with the Bihar chief minister and only a handful of them support Mr Yadav.

Questioned on the notice from the Rajya Sabha asking him to appear before the chairman, Mr Yadav said that his “lawyers were examining the matter”. He further said that the decision not to announce elections to Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh simultaneously was not correct.