Sharad Yadav Takes Big Step Forward In Plans To Split With Nitish Kumar

Sharad Yadav congratulated the Congress' Ahmed Patel on snatching Rajya Sabha seat from the BJP (file)

Sharad Yadav congratulated Ahmed Patel for Rajya Sabha poll win
Mr Yadav is reportedly contemplating launching his own party
Mr Yadav upset with Nitish Kumar-BJP alliance, had called it betrayal
Patna: Tuesday's dramatic Gujarat Rajya Sabha election has fast tracked a break-up in Bihar, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his senior colleague in the Janata Dal (United) Sharad Yadav are now inexorably headed for a split. They have been building up to it for some time now.

This morning, Sharad Yadav congratulated the Congress' Ahmed Patel for snatching victory despite an all-out effort by the BJP to prevent his re-election to the Upper House of Parliament. He also posted a photo with the Congress leader.

Ahmed Patel won his election yesterday by a single vote , possibly that of the JD-U's lone Gujarat MLA Chhotubhai Vasava, who defied party leaders to assert that he had voted for Mr Patel, an old friend. Chhotubhai Vasava also said that his decision to vote for Ahmed Patel and not the BJP, was in protest against party chief Nitish Kumar's decision to dump allies Lalu Yadav and the Congress in Bihar and partner with the BJP.