Election Commission Awards ‘Arrow’ Symbol to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United), Snubs Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, Nov 19: In huge setback for Sharad Yadav, the Election Commission on Friday awarded the 'Arrow' symbol to Janata Dal (United) faction headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Both Nitis

Updated: November 17, 2017 4:08 PM IST

By India.com News Desk | Edited by Shashank Shantanu

Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, Nov 19: In huge setback for Sharad Yadav, the Election Commission on Friday awarded the ‘Arrow’ symbol to Janata Dal (United) faction headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Both Nitish and Sharad had staked claim over the party symbol after the Bihar CM walked out of Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan in July.

The JD (U) had split into two factions – one led by Nitish Kumar and the other by Sharad Yadav – after Nitish dumped the Grand Alliance of RJD and Congress, and joined hands with the BJP to form a new government in Bihar. (Also Read:  Nitish Kumar Speaks Out in Sharad Yadav-JDU Splitsville)

Sharad Yadav was removed as JD(U)’s leader in Rajya Sabha and replaced by RCP Singh in August as differences between him and Nitish Kumar widened following collapse of the Grand Alliance.

The veteran leader had publicly crticised Nitish for ‘betraying’ the voters of Bihar who had voted against the NDA in the 2015 Assembly elections. Responding to Sharad’s accusations, Nitish had said that the senior leader was was “free” to take his decision and asserted that the “straying of a handful of people” would have no impact on the party. (Also read: Real Janata Dal With Me, ‘Sarkaari’ JD(U) Part of NDA: Sharad Yadav Hints Split)

Nitish had also questioned Sharad Yadav’s protest over the decision to part ways with the Grand Alliance. “Why did you (Yadav) not speak up in 2013 when the party broke away from the NDA? You were the president of the party at that time,” the Bihar CM had said.

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