Nitish Kumar-led JD-U faction joins NDA

The Janata Dal-United faction led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday passed a resolution at the party's national executive meeting here to formally join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"A resolution that the JD-U will join the BJP-led NDA was unanimously approved in the meeting. Now we have become part of NDA," JD-U General Secretary K.C. Tyagi told reporters.

The resolution was moved by Tyagi, which was approved by all invited members.

Tyagi said that BJP President Amit Shah had urged Nitish Kumar during his recent visit to Delhi to join the NDA.

He said the national executive also approved the party's decision to walk out of the Grand Alliance of the RJD and Congress and join hands with the BJP to form government in Bihar.

The national executive meeting was held at the official residence of Nitish Kumar, who is also JD-U president.

Most of the JD-U leaders, including 70 party MLAs, two Lok Sabha MPs and seven Rajya Sabha MPs participated in the meeting.

The JD-U now has two factions: one led by Nitish Kumar and the other by senior party leader and former party president Sharad Yadav. Yadav has been opposed to Nitish Kumar's move to embrace the BJP.

--IANS

bns/rn