RJD president Lalu Prasad on Monday said JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav had “now retired” after having got no extension as the party’s national president. He also said the JD(U) had no alternative other than Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters at Gopalganj, the RJD chief said, “Sharad is my compatriot. He has now retired, as he got no extension. I am RJD president, as my party amended its constitution but the JD(U) did not to allow Sharad Yadav another term.” Taking an indirect dig at Yadav, the RJD chief said Nitish Kumar emerged as the only alternative to Yadav, who insisted after quitting as the JD(U) president that he had not yet retired. Meanwhile, BJP legislature party leader Sushil Kumar Modi alleged, “Nitish Kumar forced Sharad Yadav to quit as party president 90 days before his term. Nitish should explain the haste for Sharad’s tearful exit. After all, organisational elections of the JD(U) had not yet been held.” Modi added Nitish “did not dare campaign against Mamata Banerjee” in West Bengal. [related-post] Taking potshots at Lalu, Modi said, “The way Nitish hijacked the JD(U) should be a matter of concern for Lalu Prasad. The man (Nitish) who could not be loyal to George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav and snapped 17 years of ties with the BJP can also dump Lalu.” Meanwhile, rubbishing talks of Yadav’s “retirement”, Nitish Kumar Monday said he (Yadav) will continue to guide the party. The new JD(U) chief was replying to a question regarding the remarks made by the RJD chief. “It’s not true. Lalu Prasad did not mean this. He and Sharad Yadav have old and good ties, why will the RJD chief make such a statement? It’s misunderstood,” Kumar said on Lalu’s comments in Gopalganj. Kumar said Yadav would continue to guide the party as earlier. Asked to be more specific about the future role of Yadav in the JD(U), Kumar said, “He will continue to work for the party as I (Kumar) used to do before becoming its president.”
