Sharad Yadav makes a U-turn, to tour state from tomorrow

PATNA: JD (U)’s former national president Sharad Yadav, who has been reportedly upset over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s decision to abandon the Grand Alliance and rejoin NDA, on Tuesday announced a three-day tour beginning Thursday for “direct interaction” with the people of the state. The tour has been christened ‘Sadak yatra dwara Bihar ki janata se seedha samvad karyakram’.

Only three days back on August 5, the Rajya Sabha MP had said he did not plan to tour Bihar on the point of differences with Nitish. On Tuesday, however, Sharad sided with the opposition parties in the upper house over the printing of new note of Rs 500 denomination in different sizes.

The veteran politician shared the tour itinerary on his official

twitter handle

. He will interact with his supporters at 20-odd places in Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Madhubani, Saharsa, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Supaul districts during the three days till Saturday.

A Sharad aide said he was actually trying to sense the mood of people in Bihar before taking a formal stand against Nitish’s decision to align with BJP.

To the surprise of many in JD (U), Sharad continued to occupy the same seat in the front rows of opposition benches in the Rajya Sabha which he occupied before his party forged an alliance with BJP in Bihar.

“We are with BJP-led NDA. That Sharad-ji has not shifted to the treasury benches betrays his nefarious intention,” said a JD (U) MLA who is a Nitish confidant for last two decades.

The MLA said if Sharad was unhappy, he should talk to Nitish who is also the JD (U) president. “If he is still unhappy, he should make his stand clear and exit from the party,” the MLA said.

JD (U) spokesman Ajay Alok said the party had nothing to do with Sharad’s tour. “It’s his personal visit,” he added.