Nitish Kumar ‘shocks’ state JD(U) unit

Mumbai: A day after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar broke the alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and then formed the government with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his party (Janata Dal United)’s Maharash-tra unit questioned his move. “Your decision to join hands with communal forces has shocked us. We cannot support it,” said a resolution passed by core committee of Maharashtra JDU. Party state chief Kapil Patil informed this after chairing urgent meeting of core committee of state unit.

The Maharashtra unit of the JD(U) convened an urgent meeting in Mumbai on Thursday. This unit was formed recently, in April, when MLC Kapil Patil along with his socialist colleagues from all over the state joined the party. But it is now feeling ‘disturbed and shocked’.

“We were looking at you as a force to stand against communal politics in the country. Your corruption-free administration and RSS-free India were two important agendas that we were looking to follow. But your sudden change of position has pained us,” said the resolution passed by core committee.

Now JD(U) leaders from the state are waiting for the next move of the party’s senior leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sharad Yadav. “We can’t go with BJP. But, if Sharadji decides something else then we may think of joining him,” said senior member from the party unit in state.

The panel has decided to call the extended working committee. It will meet in the next week. Maharashtra was once a stronghold of socialist parties. There are many pockets still in state, which are with different socialist parties or leaders. Mr Patil has started to bring them under the JD(U)’s umbrella. But, Mr Kumar’s going with BJP has forced these leaders to rethink their decision.

Meet the Maha party chief

Once a senior political journalist with Marathi daily, Kapil Patil wears many hats. He entered politics in the late 1990s. Mr Patil had worked with socialist leaders like Mrunal Gore. He entered the state legislature when the then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh helped him to contest teachers’ constituency of legislative council. Later Mr Patil made this constituency his stronghold. He has formed Lok Bharati party. In 2009 Assembly elections, cricketer Vinod Kambal had contested on Lok Bharati’s ticket from Vikhroli. Mr Patil’s networking skills across the political spectrum is well known. Recently, he decided to bring all socialists forces under one umbrella. Nitish Kumar had come to launch JD(U) state unit under Mr Patil’s leadership in Mumbai in April.