Amid Buzz of a Union Cabinet Berth, Sharad Yadav Talks to Congress

Patna: Former JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, who is apparently unhappy with Nitish Kumar’s return to the NDA fold, has got in touch with the Congress, according to sources.

Sources said Yadav met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at Jawahar Bhawan and has called a meeting of party MPs at his residence at 5pm on Thursday.

This move comes even as there is a buzz that Yadav will be given a berth in the union cabinet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yadav has so far refused to answer questions on the political upheaval in the state, but sources said the Rajya Sabha MP is not happy with Kumar’s decision to break the grand alliance with the Congress and the RJD.

Another senior party leader, Ali Anwar, has already spoken out against Nitish, refusing to back the new alliance.

“This alliance is a rashtriya durghatna (national tragedy). Nitish Kumar said his conscience doesn’t allow him to stay (in the Mahagathbandhan). Well, my conscience does not allow me to support him,” Anwar, a Rajya Sabha MP, said.

Anwar claimed party leaders were not consulted before the decision. “This alliance is only good for one party and that's the BJP. We were not consulted before this decision. The national council was slated for July 23, but it was postponed for a month. I will continue raising my voice against this decision,” he told CNN-News18.

"Can't speak for others, but I think this is a historic mistake. People were hoping Nitish Kumar would be the torch-bearer of alternative politics…. I will present my views in the party meeting. It’s not just about Bihar, it’s about India.”

Nitish has said that the decision to part ways with the RJD and join hands with the BJP was taken in the “interest of Bihar”.

Kumar resigned the post on Wednesday evening after a fall out with alliance partner RJD over corruption charges against Lalu Yadav and some of his family members, including son Tejashwi, who was the then deputy CM.

"Whatever decision we have taken will be in the interest of Bihar and of its people. It will ensure development and justice. It will also ensure progress. This is a collective decision. I ensure that our commitment is towards the people of Bihar," Nitish Kumar told reporters.

Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state alongside senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who will be his deputy in the new government, at the Raj Bhavan in Patna.