Rift in JD (U), Sharad slams Nitish for playing caste politics

Fissures in the Janata Dal (United) came out in open on Saturday with the party chief, Sharad Yadav, slamming Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for playing caste politics. 

The JD (U) chief also accused former Bihar chief minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad of dividing the people on caste lines in the election season. 

‘Both (Nitish and Lalu) have pursued the politics of caste. I am taking responsibility for the pathetic condition of the state because I helped Lalu and Nitish in governing Bihar. Unfortunately, both believe in caste-based politics,’ Yadav, who is contesting from Madehupra, said during a rally in Muzaffarpur.  The BJP took Sharad Yadav’s statement as an opportunity to hit back at its former ally. BJP’s national spokesperson and candidate from Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat Shah Nawaz Hussain said his party welcomes Sharad Yadav’s view. 

Earlier, difference of opinion within the JD (U) over extending support to AAP candidate Arvind Kejriwal also became evident with Bihar party chief Basistha Narayan Singh saying the organization should have been consulted before going public on the issue. 

‘There should have been more consultation within the party before going in public over support to Kejriwal,’ he said seeking to keep distance from announcement of JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi on the issue.