Former union minister Ali Ashraf Fatmi, who quit RJD ahead of Lok Sabha Elections, joins JDU

Former Union Minister Ali Ashraf Fatmi, who formally quit the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 to contest as an independent candidate, has joined Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar`s Janata Dal-United (JDU). "I am fortunate enough that I joined the JDU today. I had served the party when it was just Janta Dal. Now I get an opportunity to serve Janta Dal-United as well. I was a four-time MP from Darbhanga and also Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development from 2004 till 2009," Ashraf told ANI.

According to Fatmi, he met the chief minister thrice before deciding about joining the party. The four-time MP from Darbhanga Lok Sabha seat said he was impressed with the development work done by Nitish Kumar in the state.

"Before joining JDU, I met Kumar thrice and had a long meeting with him. He works very well and his ideas like `water in every household`s tap` and `Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas` are really appreciable," he added.

The party (RJD) which was dominated by money was never fit for me," he added.

Earlier, Fatmi criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for expelling him from the party for six years without a show-cause notice. He also said why no action was taken against Lalu's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav for speaking against the RJD.