Supporters of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav clashed outside the chief minister’s residence in Patna on Saturday, PTI reported. Yadav’s supporters reportedly were on their way to the SK Memorial Hall for the “Jan Adalat” programme, along with the disgruntled leader, when they stopped outside the chief minister’s residence and began to shout slogans.

Some of the men, carrying sticks and belts, tried to enter Kumar’s residence. Kumar’s supporters, who had gathered at his residence for the JD(U) National Executive Committee meet, emerged and chased away Yadav’s group.

“We will watch CCTV cameras and try to identify those behind the violence and act against them,” Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said. Yadav, who was in a car with suspended JD(U) MP Ali Anwar, refused to comment on the incident. “I will speak at the [Jan Adalat] programme,” he said.

The Nitish Kumar-led faction of the JD(U) passed a resolution on Saturday to join the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. The decision was taken at the day-long National Executive of the party.

JD(U) warns Sharad Yadav of action

The Nitish Kumar-led faction on Saturday hinted that action would be taken against Sharad Yadav if he attends Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rally in Patna on August 27, reported IANS. “If he [Sharad Yadav] attends Lalu Prasad Yadav’s rally in Patna on August 27, then he will cross the Lakshman Rekha [red line],” JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said.

Tyagi accused Sharad Yadav of indulging in anti-party activities, and said that the senior leader had “left the party on his own” and is “no longer with us, emotionally or physically.” Tyagi said Sharad Yadav had always taken a stand opposite to that of Nitish Kumar, whether on women’s reservation, surgical strikes or demonetisation. “He always took a different stand and went to the extremes.”

Tyagi also said that there was no split in the JD(U) as all the MLAs supported Nitish Kumar. He said the heads of 16 state committees supported the chief minister.