Patna,(BiharTimes): The crisis in ruling Janata Dal (United) took an ugly turn on Thursday with a large number of senior leaders, including ministers, MPs and legislators, openly criticizing the move to give tickets to those who have joined the party with the sole purpose of contesting election.

They have all met the party’s national president, Sharad Yadav, who himself flew to New Delhi on Wednesday morning in protest against the list of candidates handed over to him. According to media reports Sharad tore the list and went to Delhi only to return to Patna late on Wednesday night after much persuasion.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh, who had earlier this week asked the party to constitute parliamentary board for the selection of candidates, on Thursday met Sharad for 45 minutes.

Incidentally, Janata Dal (United) is the only party which does not have the parliamentary board to select the candidates. Nitish had announced four candidates at four places where he went to address rallies.

Brishen Patel, another minister close to the chief minister has openly come out against the decision to field new-comers. He also said that the party should seek the opinion of district level leaders too in this regard.

What is surprising is that even enior party MLA from Barh, Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, who is considered close to Nitish, has spoken against the manner in which the tickets have been allotted.

Party MPs from Supaul Vishwa Mohan Kumar and from Ujjiarpur, Ashwamedh Devi, have openly come out against Nitish. Another MLA Neeraj Kumar Bablu, who strongly opposed the induction of Lesie Singh into the cabinet, has also opposed the allotment of tickets to the new entrants.

They all are of the view that the party should welcome them but should not give ticket to them. After all there are so many dedicated party leaders and workers who have stood strongly by Nitish through thick and thin and they should be given ticket. Many of them have been in the party since the Samata Party days yet nobody is bothered about them, they alleged.

Without naming any one they all directed their criticism towards Nitish Kumar.

As if that was not enough another party leader Mahachandra Prasad Singh announced that he would contest from Maharajganj parliamentary seat even if the party does not give him ticket. Earlier, he was planning to contest against Lallan Singh from Munger.

A senior party leader asked “how is it that we can not find eight candidates though we have been in power for eight years. Most of those whom the party has given tickets are outsiders.”

There are reports that at least one more minister may quit the Nitish cabinet over ticket distribution.
The open revolt started after some RJD leaders such as Shakuni Chaudhary, Abu Qaiser and others joined the JD(U). The dissidents leaders strongly opposed allotment of tickets to them.

How can Abu Qaiser, who lost the last Assembly election on RJD ticket in Bhagalpur got the Lok Sabha ticket of JD(U) from Bhagalpur parliamentary seat. The BJP has the sitting sitting MP, Syed Shahnawaz Husain.

Many JD(U) workers are also opposing the names of Vijendra Chaudhary, who too lost the last Assembly election.