The JD(U)’s mahadalit wing chief, Rajesh Kumar Sada, on Tuesday rejoined the party two days after quitting and saved Bihar’s ruling party from further embarrassment in the face of continuing attacks on chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Mr Sada, who had resigned in protest against the allotment of the JD(U)’s tickets for the Assembly polls, said he came back to the party swiftly after realising that his departure would have empowered Bihar’s anti-development and anti-Mahadalit forces. “I would now put my strength in ensuring the defeat of LJP leader Pasupati Paras in the Alauli reserved constituency,” said Mr Sada to reporters at the party office.
The JD(U), however, faced a setback on Tuesday when two upper-caste JD(U) leaders — former ministers and the party’s state vice-presidents Ashok Kumar Singh and Mitilesh Kumar Singh — resigned protesting Mr Kumar’s “dictatorial style of functioning”. Both leaders said dedicated leaders were denied party tickets.