JD(U) disbands state executive committee

Apparently rattled with dissension in the rank and file over the expansion of the Jitan Ram Manjhi government, the JD(U) today disbanded its state executive committee and in the process divested present office bearers of the responsibilities they held till date. "The JD(U) state executive stands dissolved with immediate effect. New executive will be constituted in 10 days," JD(U) state-unit president Bashistha Narayan Singh told reporters at a press conference here.

The decision came after the party's dismal show in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, he said. Party leadership felt that a new executive committee would be able to serve the state unit in a more vigorous manner in time ahead and take forward the party's agendas among the people, Singh said. As per the interim arrangement to run day-to-day affairs of the state unit JD(U), Ajay Alok will serve as the spokesman, while Sanjeev Kumar Singh has been nominated be treasurer for the time being, he added.

Naveen Arya and Ravindra Kumar Singh will look after the affairs of the state unit JD(U) office, the ruling party state unit president said. On dissension over the JD(U) government's expansion late last month with several senior functionaries resigning from the posts to protest their exclusion from the ministry, Singh said that the protests were natural, but it's the Chief Minister's prerogative to appoint his ministers.

On the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad accusing JD(U) of betrayal for trying to break his party despite offering unconditional support to the Manjhi government, Singh said that the ruling party was not making any endeavour to weaken other parties in the state.