Nitish faction real JD-U: Poll panel

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 17

In the intra-party tussle between factions led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and senior leader Sharad Yadav, the Election Commission (EC) today ruled that the real Janta Dal-United belonged to the former group and had the exclusive right to use the official party symbol, “Arrow”.

The decision is seen as a setback to Yadav and leaders belonging to his faction. The JD-U is a recognised state party in Bihar.

The Election Commission, in its order issued today, said the group led by Nitish Kumar “has demonstrated overwhelming majority support” in the legislature wing as well as the majority in the national council of the party, which is the apex organisational body of the JD-U.

“The group led by Nitish Kumar is hereby recognised as the Janata Dal (United)... Consequently, the group led by Nitish Kumar is entitled to use the reserved symbol ‘Arrow’ of the party as a recognised state party in Bihar,” the order noted.

Welcoming the EC decision, party’s secretary general and chief spokesperson KC Tyagi said: “The group led by Kumar has been entitled to use the reserved symbol of the party. The party congratulates all its workers, counsels and office-bearers.”

He added that the decision had “exposed” the other group’s claim that “there has been dispute in the party following the decision of alliance with the NDA in Bihar”.

Battle on: Sharad faction

The rival Sharad Yadav faction declared that the battle would not end here. Group's spokesman Javed Raza, who is considered close to Yadav, said they would very soon decide the future course of action in consultation with their lawyers.

“All I would like to say at this point is that the Election Commission's image has taken a beating with this decision. We suspect the decision has been taken hurriedly under some pressure. Our battle will continue,” Raza said.

Another rebel group leader Arun Shrivastava said the decision was “surprising” as “we had countered their (Nitish faction’s) every argument but they could not counter any of ours”.

(With agency inputs)