JD(U) expels candidate for lauding Narendra Modi

The Janata Dal (United) Monday expelled its Lok Sabha candidate from Sheohar, Sabir Ali, from the party after he praised BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, JD(U) leaders said.

JD(U)'s national spokesperson K.C. Tyagi said Ali was expelled for anti-party activities.

Another JD(U) leader and Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the party will field a new candidate from Sheohar.

The party was taken aback Monday when Ali praised Modi.

"Modi's policies (in Gujarat) are good and Modi's work for development is also laudable," Ali told the media here.

He said "small parties" - which he did not name - were trying to cheat Muslims in the name of secularism. "But Muslims will not get trapped in this game this time."

Ali is reportedly in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was upset after the JD(U) refused to nominate him to the Rajya Sabha.

Read: JD-U candidate Sabir Ali lauds Narendra Modi