Setback for Sharad Yadav as Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) gets EC nod to use 'arrow' as party symbol

The Election Commission gave the order and rejected a plea filed by Gujarat party leader Chhotubhai Amarsang Vasava to recognise his group as real JD(U).

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (Photo: PTI) and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (Photo: PTI) and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav

In Short

  • EC allowed Nitish faction to use 'arrow' symbol as a recognised state party in Bihar.
  • Sharad Yadav earlier approached EC staking claim over JD(U)'s election symbol.
  • Sharad Yadav's faction produced 429 affidavits in support of its claim.

The Election Commission is learnt to have recognised the faction led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].

According to sources, the Election Commission has also allowed the Nitish Kumar faction to use reserved election symbol 'arrow' as a recognised state party in Bihar.

The Election Commission gave the order and rejected a plea filed by Gujarat party leader Chhotubhai Amarsang Vasava to recognise his group as real JD(U).

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Last month, Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav faction of the JD(U) had announced election to party posts on March 11 and released a list of interim office- bearers.

As per rebel JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav's announcement, Chhotu Bhai Vasava was made the working president and another rebel Rajya Sabha MP Ali Anwar as one of the vice-presidents.

Yadav also released a list of presidents of party units in states. Members of an ad hoc committee for Bihar were also announced. It will be headed by former minister Ramai Ram.

Yadav had earlier approached the Election Commission staking claim over the JD(U)'s election symbol.

Sharad Yadav's faction produced 429 affidavits in support of its claim.

The Nitish Kumar-led group also submitted affidavits of its MPs and MLAs in support of his leadership.

This faction has maintained that an overwhelming number of its party leaders are with Nitish Kumar and only a handful of them support Yadav.

They have also approached Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and filed a plea seeking disqualification of its rebel MPs - Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar.