The Opposition could have lost more than a State government on Thursday, with JD (U) president Nitish Kumar being sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister, with the BJP replacing the RJD and the Congress. It might also stand considerably weakened in the Rajya Sabha, if the JD (U)’s nine MPs in the Upper House take the logical next step and decide to henceforth vote with the ruling party.
On Thursday evening, some of these MPs, including Anwar Ali and Veerendra Kumar, met JD(U) floor leader Sharad Yadav on Thursday evening at his residence to express their unhappiness with the turn of events. Mr. Veerendra Kumar had, party sources said, explained long before this crisis that since he is from Kerala, he would have to vote either with the Congress-led United Democratic Fund (UDF) or the LDF: he is with the latter.
Natural corollary
Mr. Sharad Yadav is learnt to have said he would consult other party leaders and State units before deciding what stand to take in the Rajya Sabha. Simultaneously, another senior JD(U) leader said if the JD(U) had accepted the help of the BJP in Bihar, it would be a natural corollary for it to reciprocate that support in Delhi.