Revolt in JD-U against Nitish Kumar

A revolt seems to be brewing in the Janata Dal-United with several of its state units opposing re-election of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its national president and demanding proper organisational polls for election of the next party president, informed sources said.

Nitish was nominated the party's president at its national executive meeting in New Delhi on April 10 this year, replacing party veteran Sharad Yadav. His nomination was later ratified by the party's national council.

"According to party constitution, Nitish Kumar can not be re-elected as party president until the organisational elections at least in half of the states gets completed. Till date no organistaional election except Bihar has taken place," one of the state presidents, who is leading the dissident group of state chiefs, told IANS.

He also said the revolt is not against any individual but for the internal democracy in the political party.

"Among many of today's political parties, it was only the JD-U which practiced internal democracy, but since Nitish Kumar has taken over, the party has been converted into a private limited company," the JD-U leader told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

The rebel JD-U leader also said that on September 20-21, at least a dozen state party chiefs met former party head Sharad Yadav in Delhi at his residence and raised their concerns but he did not adress the issue.

The dissident leaders have convened a press meet on Friday in Press Club of India to announce their further action plan. State unit chiefs of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, West Bengal and Manipur are likely to be present in the meet.

JD-U has convened its national council at Rajgir (Bihar) on October 16 and 17.

Party sources said the national council will formally elect Nitish Kumar as its president.

JD-U, a Bihar-centric party, had two previous presidents -- George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav.

--IANS

bns/rn