Nitish approved decision to support Kejriwal: Tyagi

The JD-U decision to campaign for AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi was approved by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and party chief Sharad Yadav, party spokesperson K.C. Tyagi said Sunday.

"Nitish himself told me that I should go and campaign for Kejriwal in Varanasi. He expressed his inability to do so as he is busy with the poll campaign in Bihar," Tyagi told IANS.

"I took prior permission from Sharad (Yadav) as well. It was only after that I announced it to the media as the spokesperson of the party," said Tyagi.

Differences emerged in the Janta Dal-United over supporting Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal when state president Vashishtha Narayan Singh disapproved of Tyagi's announcement.

"There was no dispute. I spoke to Vashishtha (Narayan) and he said that no JD-U worker will be able to go to Varanasi as they are needed in the state where two rounds of polls are still due. I agreed to it," Tyagi said.

JD-U general secretary Javed Raza said that the decision to campaign in Varanasi for Kejriwal was made at the central level.

"There are some issues on which decisions are made at the central level. This was our decision. On other issues, the state unit takes a call and we approve of it," said Raza.

Tyagi also said he will be going to Varanasi Monday with Sharad Yadav where they are going to address a joint election meeting with AAP leaders.

"We will be staying there tomorrow (Monday) and will return the next day. Sharad Yadav will return to Bihar afterwards," said Tyagi, who is also secretary-general of the party.