Rebel JD-U leaders protest against Nitish at Jantar Mantar

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar formally took over as President of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), a section of party leaders staged a protest here, demanding that the Election Commission declare the organisational election of the party as "null and void".

Hundreds of party workers marched from Jantar Mantar to the Election Commission of India building and submitted a memorandum alleging that party constitution was not followed in the organisational elections.

"The organisational elections in which Nitish Kumar was elected as party president is completely illegal and uncostitutional," JD-U Madhya Pradesh President Govind Yadav told IANS.

"The Election Commission must declare the results as null and void," Yadav added.

He also said election results for all the party posts too should be declared as null and void.

"They are murdering the party's constitution and trying to bring new party constitution," the JD-U leader added.

Nitish Kumar on Sunday formally took over as President of the ruling JD-U at a party meeting in Rajgir in Nalanda district of Bihar.

The two-day JD-U National Council meeting, that began on Sunday in Rajgir, ratified Nitish Kumar's election to the top post, after JD-U Electoral Officer Anil Hegde made an announcement in this regard.

Along with Yadav were the three other state JD(U) chiefs -- Amitabh Dutta (West Bengal), Pramod Sharma (Uttarakhand) and Thakur Balbir Singh (Delhi) -- who expressed their opposition to Nitish Kumar's elevation to the post almost six months ago.

Earlier in April this year, Nitish Kumar was nominated the party's president at its national executive meeting in New Delhi, replacing party veteran Sharad Yadav. His nomination was later ratified by the party's National Council.

--IANS

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