JD-U suspends 21 rebels in Bihar (Lead)

Patna Aug 14 (IANS) Bihar s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Monday suspended 21 members including former minister Ramai Ram for six years on charges of anti-party activities after they backed rebel leader Sharad Yadav who has opposed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar s decision to tie up with the BJP.

Among the leaders suspended are Arjun Rai a former MP from Sitamarhi former MLA Raj Kishore Sinha and former MLC Vijay Verma. Two district presidents and five block level presidents are also in the list.

Bihar JD-U President Vashistha Narayan Singh issued a statement naming the 21 who were stripped off their primary membership.

The JD-U on Saturday removed Sharad Yadav who opposed the party s decision to ally with the BJP in Bihar as its leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced him with R.C.P. Singh a trusted lieutenant of Nitish Kumar.

On Friday the JD-U suspended its Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar Ansari from the parliamentary party after he attended a meeting of opposition parties convened by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

According to JD-U leaders the Monday suspensions come as the members had accompanied Sharad Yadav during his three- day visit to Saran Muzaffarpur Madhubani and Darbhanga districts to meet party supporters and understand their mood over Nitish Kumar s decision.

--IANS
ik/sar/bg