‘Sharad Yadav is free to take his own decision. As far as party is concerned, the party has taken its decision," said Nitish Kumar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that former Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav has every right to take his own decision as to where his loyalties lie, adding the decision to form an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was made with the consent of the entire party.
‘Sharad Yadav is free to take his own decision. As far as party is concerned, the party has taken its decision. The decision taken is not based on my will only, it had been made with the consent of the entire party. I have made it clear earlier also, but if still he wants to put forward his opinion then he is free to do so,’ Kumar told media.
Yadav has rebelled against party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for breaking away from the grand alliance to join hands with the BJP last month.
Also, with Sonia Gandhi inviting Sharad Yadav in the Opposition meeting today, the party has come down heavily on the Congress President saying she is trying to create a rift within the Nitish Kumar-led party.
Speaking to ANI, JD (U) general secretary K C Tyagi said, "Calling our party members in meeting of Opposition leaders reveals Sonia Gandhi's wrong intentions. We already have broken our ties with UPA and Mahagathbandhan. By calling us she wants to create a rift between party members."
Controversy broke out after Sharad Yadav on Thursday declared in Patna that he was still with the Grand Alliance of the RJD and Congress.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah as his party prepares to join the NDA after forming the government in the state in alliance with the saffron party.
It was Kumar's first visit to the national capital after he jettisoned the alliance with the RJD and the Congress, and sealed a tie-up with the BJP on July 26.
He told reporters after meeting Modi that it was a courtesy call and he will visit Delhi again this month end to discuss Bihar's developmental issues with the prime minister.
He later had a luncheon meeting with Shah in which both leaders are believed to have discussed ongoing political developments and other issues related to the state.
JD(U) sources said the party is expected to announce its decision to formally join the BJP-led NDA in its national executive meeting on July 19 in Patna.
Asked if the party will also join the Modi cabinet, a JD (U) leader said such a decision will be "natural".
"When we are together in government in Bihar it is only natural that our party joins the Union government," he said.
However, he added that such a decision will be taken by Kumar and the party had not deliberated over it yet.
The JD(U) has 12 members in Parliament, two in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha.
Its leader in the Rajya Sabha Sharad Yadav has rebelled against the alliance with the BJP but apparently does not enjoy much support among other party's lawmakers.
Kumar almost shut the door on any reconciliation with Yadav, saying he is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party's nod.
"He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so," Kumar said.
With inputs from PTI and ANI
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