Rebel Sharad is free to choose his path, says Nitish Kumar

Bihar chief miniser Nitish Kumar on Friday said that his senior JDU colleague Sharad Yadav, who has revolted against the party's decision to return to the NDA fold, was free to choose his path.
 
"He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as the party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so," Nitish told reporters here after his first interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi post joining the hands of the BJP to remain in power in Bihar.
 
Kumar's comment was in response to Yadav openly revolting against his decision to come back to the NDA after 2003. Rajya Sabha MP Yadav in his ongoing tour of Bihar had stated that he will remain with the grand alliance of RJD and Congress which Nitish had dumped after graft allegations were made against former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. Sharad had claimed that the "real" JDU was with him and Kumar represented "sarkari" JDU.
 
The CM, meanwhile, described his meeting with PM Modi as a courtsy call and had a luncheon interaction with BJP president Amit Shah. BJP sources hinted that the meeting with Shah was to discuss how to handle situation arising of open defiance by Sharad Yadav ahead of JDU's national executive meeting in Patna on July 19 to formally announce merger with the NDA.
 
JDU suspended its MP Ali Ansari, who is said to be close to Sharad Yadav, from parliamentary party since he attended a meeting of leaders of 18 opposition parties which was convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to evolve next strategy to counter BJP surge.
 
The meeting with Modi and Shah also assumed significance as buzz has it that at least two JDU leaders are likely to be drafted into the central government when PM undertakes expected cabinet reshuffle sometime this or next month.  A  JDU source did not find unusual to join the central government after becoming an ally of the ruling coalition.

"When we are together in government in Bihar it is only natural that our party joins the Union government," he told a news agency.

The BJP is also working on AIADMK to join the NDA camp to boost  its strength in Rajya Sabha which Modi government desperately needs to pass legislation ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

As of now, the JD(U) two MPs in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha, taking its strength to 12 in parliament.