Akhilesh, Sharad Yadav move closer to RJD, Congress may rush senior leader to Patna to avert split

Sharad Yadav, MP and leader of the JD(U) in the Lok Sabha, on Thursday declared that effectively there were two ‘Janata Dals’, one a ‘Sarkari’ Janata Dal led by the Chief Minister and the ministers and the ‘real’ Janata Dal of the masses. He was speaking at a public meeting at Sonepur(Bihar).

On landing at Patna airport earlier, he distanced himself from the official Janata Dal (U) when he told the waiting media that he was still with the ‘grand alliance’ that had received a mandate from the people of the state.

The writing on the wall had become clearer on Wednesday evening when the state president of Janata Dal (U) Bashisth Narayan Singh said that Sharad Yadav was entitled to visit his constituency and address public meetings. But, he added, if he strayed outside his constituency then it would be deemed to be an anti-party activity because he, as state party president, had been kept in the dark by Sharad Yadav about his programme.

The rebel JD(U) leader, who was received at the Patna airport by RJD supporters and RJD leader Rambadan Rai, plans to address a dozen odd public meetings during his three-day tour. He would mostly be moving in areas known to be RJD strongholds.

“Sharad Yadav needs Lalu Prasad Yadav to win his next election from Bihar,” quipped a political observer, adding that Sharad Yadav had little to gain by staying with JD(U).

Meanwhile, a dozen odd MLAs from the Congress were said to have sealed an agreement with JD(U) to jump the fence and leave the party. While no official confirmation was available and the few MLAs NH tried to speak to, would not confirm the reports, sources close to them had held that a split in the state Congress was imminent and it would have been possibly be timed to take some of the sheen off the Opposition rally that Lalu Prasad is hosting at Patna on August 27. However, certain sources later confirmed that the deal has apparently fallen through and the Congress was rushing a senior leader to Patna soon.

The rally had been announced long before Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance with RJD and Congress. And while Lalu Prasad is said to have extended an invitation to all Opposition leaders, barring the participation of the Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, participation of other leaders is yet to be confirmed.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, however, confirmed on Thursday that he would be attending the rally. On the question of forging a united Opposition to take on the BJP in 2019, he said, "We will decide when the time comes.”

Lalu Prasad is also believed to be in talks with BSP leader Mayawati and there are unconfirmed reports that she may also join the rally.