PATNA: After deciding to stay off the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh despite a year’s work to expand its base there, JD(U) is struggling to contain massive internal dissent in its top leadership. The January 23 decision is seen by some JD(U) leaders as suicidal in terms of the party’s plans for rapid nationwide expansion and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s ambition to become prime minister in 2019.
JD(U)’s founding-member Satish Kumar has voiced dissent at the “shocking decision”, blaming national general secretary K C Tyagi and the reticent, elusive Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh for “restricting Nitish”. “The party was non-existent in UP. We mobilised people from the grassroot and communities. Nitish addressed the first JD(U) rally in UP near Varanasi in April 2016, which drew 50,000 people. Leaders from other parties started joining JD(U). All this effort and a groundswell were ruined by this decision,” said Satish, whom Nitish had sent to UP in January 2016 to build a base.
JD(U) contested 219 seats in UP’s 2012 Assembly polls without any preparation and garnered 0.67 per cent votes against LJP’s 0.43 per cent in 212 seats. It had groomed 36 candidates for the upcoming polls. “There is huge disappointment among our leaders and workers. We are yet to choose our next course of action,” said JD(U) leader from Varanasi Awadhesh Kumar Singh, who was to contest from Sewapuri.