Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 25
Janata Dal United JD(U) national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday tried to play down defections of his party MLAs to BJP in Arunachal Pradesh and said the national executive of JD(U) would discuss the issue.
The meeting is scheduled to be held here on December 26 and 27.
Talking to newsmen after inauguration of Lohiya Chakra flyover in the capital, Nitish said there was nothing big (Koi Baat Nahi Hai). He however did not elaborate.
Sources close to the Chief Minister claimed betrayal by six out of seven JD(U) MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh had not been appreciated by the party president. They said the defecting legislators did not inform Nitish earlier. There was no communication from the BJP either, they said and added BJP and JDU are partners in NDA government in Bihar.
Representatives of JDU from Arunachal Pradesh too have been invited to attend the national executive committee meeting here. On November 26, JD(U) had expelled two of its MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh on charges of anti-party activities.
In the last month’s assembly elections in Bihar, JD(U) was reduced to 43 from 71 of its earlier strength in the House and BJP increased its tally to 75 from 50 earlier.
Nitish Kumar had to concede the demands of the BJP during the cabinet formation and inducted two BJP legislators as deputy chief ministers in place of one when Nitish allied with BJP or with RJD since 2015.
