Sharad Yadav embarks on second phase of his Bihar yatra to target Nitish

JD (U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav, who has raised a banner of revolt against party chief Nitish Kumar, for his decision to jettison the ‘grand alliance’ and return the JD (U) to the BJP-led NDA, started the second leg of his Jan Samvad Yatra in Bihar on Monday.

During his four day trip, Yadav will go to six districts of Bihar to create awareness about what he terms as “mandate-defying decision” of JD (U) president Nitish Kumar, in July, to re-enter into an alliance with the BJP.

“During his tour of Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Gaya and Aurangabad districts, Yadav will tell the people that Kumar had defied the popular mandate for the JD (U)-RJD-Congress grand alliance in the November 2015 assembly poll to form a new government with the BJP in July”, said a Sharad supporter.

Yadav had earlier embarked on a similar yatra (August 10-13), triggering a reaction from the official JD (U) leadership that saw him being replaced as leader of party in Rajya Sabha and suspension from the party of some of his followers.

Before leaving for Bhojpur, Yadav launched a blistering attack on party chief and Bihar chief minister Kumar, holding him responsible for breaking the alliance. He also attacked the government on the issue of corruption.

“Never in 70 years’ history of the country, a canal which took 40 years to be completed, has been breached even before its inauguration,” Yadav said. “Corruption has spread its tentacles all around,” he added.

Yadav also took a dig at the NDA government at the centre, saying it was coming out with new laws every day, whereas the poor were being affected adversely. “The GST has affected all,” he said.

During his tour of six Bihar districts over the next fourdays, Yadav will be holding public meetings against newly formed JD (U)-BJP government in Bihar. He will be holding 30 public meetings during this period.

Yadav’s decision to attend an RJD rally in Patna on August 27 had upset the JD (U)’s official leader so much so that it has moved for the termination of Yadav’s Rajya Sabha membership on the ground of indulging in “anti- party activities”.

A decision in this regard is pending with chairman of the Rajya Sabha.