Nitish throws open challenge at Sharad Yadav, says break JD(U) if you have the might

After joining BJP-led NDA, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) boss Nitish Kumar on Saturday hit back at party’s warring faction led by Sharad Yadav and dared them to “break the JD(U) if they have the might.”

“Break the JD(U) Legislative party if you have the might...prove a two-thirds majority within the party for breaking it, otherwise your membership will go,” Nitish Kumar challenged Sharad Yadav and his loyalists.

Nitish Kumar asserted that Sharad is “free” to take his decision as the “straying of a handful of people” would not impact the party.

Bihar CM questioned Yadav’s protest over the decision to part ways with the Grand Alliance in Bihar.

“Why did you (Yadav) not speak up in 2013 when the party broke away from the NDA? You were the president of the party at that time,” he said.

Addressing an open session after the JD(U) national council and national executive meets, Kumar said speaking up after the development was of no importance.

Making a veiled attack on Yadav, who held a parallel ‘Jan Adalat’ meeting in Patna today, instead of attending the JD(U) national executive meet at Kumar’s official residence, the chief minister said, “Only one thing is being run jointly nowadays—promoting family interests in politics.”

Also Read | JD(U)'s Ghar Wapsi, national executive passes resolution to join Modi-led NDA

(With PTI inputs)