Sharad Yadav's three-day 'jan samvad' event begins in Bihar

Rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav today launched his three-day "jan samvad" (public interaction) programme in Bihar, launching attacks against the central government and the Nitish Kumar-led regime in the state.
The former Janata Dal (United) president, who has broken ranks with Kumar following the latter's move to quit the "Mahagathbandhan", also comprising the RJD and Congress, and join the BJP-led NDA, had held similar "Bihar Yatras" (tours) in August and September.
The Rajya Sabha MP held public meetings at Fatuha, Bakhtiyarpur, Barh and Mokama in Patna district today, before crossing the Ganges to reach Barauni in Begusarai, where he accused the BJP-led central government of "betrayal of the promises made to the people of the country during the last Lok Sabha polls".

Training his guns at Kumar, who took over as the JD(U) national president last year, Yadav said the former had become the chief minister of Bihar as a Grand Alliance candidate and alleged that by switching sides mid-way, he had committed "dhokadhadi" (fraud).
He insisted that notwithstanding the setback in Bihar, the idea of a "Mahagathbandhan" was alive and added that efforts were being made to unite all the non-BJP parties before the 2019 general election.
The rebel JD(U) leader is scheduled to hold a number of public meetings in some other districts tomorrow, before leaving for Delhi on Tuesday.

The JD(U) faction headed by Kumar, which enjoys the support of most of the party MPs, MLAs and MLCs, has sought Yadav's disqualification for "anti-party" activities.
Yadav, on his part, had made an unsuccessful bid to lay claim before the Election Commission to the JD(U) symbol, claiming that his faction enjoyed the support of most of the party's state units outside Bihar.