Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) passes resolution to join NDA

The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday passed a resolution to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during the party's national executive meeting chaired by leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The political move that makes the ruling party in Bihar officially an ally of the NDA at the Centre comes weeks after Nitish broke ties with the Grand Alliance parties  Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal - in the state and re-formed the government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Sharad Yadav is invited for the JD(U) national executive meet and he can sort out differences, but he shouldn't attend Lalu Yadav's programme. We will lose our faith in him, if he does so. He is one of the founders of the party, therefore, he can put forward his views in the meeting," Tyagi told the media here.

Meanwhile, ahead of the national executive committee meeting of the JD(U), the two factions of the party - one led by Nitish Kumar and the other by former party president Sharad Yadav - put up striking publicity material in Patna, leading up to a poster war in the city.

The poster put up by Sharad Yadav's faction showcased him with "Jan Adalat ka Faisla - Mahagathbandhan jari hai (decision of the people's court - the grand alliance continues)" written on it.The other has Nitish with party leaders - state JD(U) chief Basistha Narayan Singh, RCP Singh and others. "Nitish Kumar hi zindabad (hail only Nitish Kumar)," said the poster.

Sharad Yadav was sacked as JD(U)'s Rajya Sabha leader when he made his chagrin against Nitish Kumar snapping ties with the Lalu Yadav-led RJD and forging an alliance with the BJP, to form the next government in Bihar, quite evident. Sharad Yadav will hold a parallel convention in the state under the title 'Jan Adalat' later on Saturday.