Janata Dal (United) rebel leader Sharad Yadav’s faction on Thursday announced the formation of political outfit called the Loktantrik Janata Dal, PTI reported.

The group’s national secretary, Sushila Morale, made the announcement at a press conference in New Delhi. Yadav was present at the event, but said that he was not yet a member of the party as his claim to represent the JD(U) was still sub judice.

The new political outfit, which is scheduled to conduct a national conference on May 18, said Yadav would be its mentor.

Yadav and another party leader Ali Anwar broke away from the JD(U) after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ended the alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party in July. On September 5, JD(U) leaders RCP Singh and Sanjay Jha submitted a petition to Naidu, seeking their disqualification from the Rajya Sabha. Venkaiah Naidu, the Rajya Sabha chairperson, removed Yadav and Anwar from the Upper House three months later.

Yadav had moved the Delhi High Court against his disqualification in December. He also asked the court to allow him to use the JD(U)’s arrow symbol after the Election Commission rejected his claim on it.

In December, the Delhi High Court said it would not interfere in Yadav’s disqualification proceedings from the Rajya Sabha, but ruled that he could continue to get his government allowances and keep the government bungalow, ANI reported.