The Election Commission (EC) has declined to take cognisance of the JD(U) faction led by Sharad Yadav to stake a claim over the party symbol of “arrow”.

The EC has cited lack of documents for rejecting Yadav’s case. This is being viewed as a victory of sorts for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who all along maintained that his was the ‘real JD (U)’.

Sources in the Commission said a communication has been sent to the Yadav camp, conveying that its “application has been dismissed as it is not supported with documents of support.”

There has been much bickering between Nitish and Yadav since the JD(U) split into two factions after the former exited the Grand Alliance and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government in the State. The Grand Alliance, led by Lalu Prasad’s RJD, also includes the Congress.

Apart from approaching the EC, the Yadav-led faction also called a “national council” to show that it is the real JD(U).

On July 26, Nitish resigned as the Chief Minister, ending his 20-month government which was run along with the RJD and Congress.

However, within hours of stepping down, he tied up with the BJP to form the next government in the State, much to the annoyance of several in the JD(U) like Sharad Yadav.