Nitish Kumar’s JD-U opts out of UP poll contest to prevent ‘split’ in secular votes

PATNA: The Janata Dal United of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has decided not to contest assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls next month, reports said.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party’s core committee held last night under the chairmanship of Kumar, as per media reports.

Reports said the JD-U decided to opt out of the contest in bid to prevent “split” in secular votes but inside story said it was forced to withdraw from the poll arena after no party looked eager to ally with it.

The party had been trying hard for the past over six months looking for political space.

In fact, the JD-U was seeking for a broader Bihar-like alliance in UP on the pretext of defeating the BJP and strengthen its position.

The JD-U was the first to launch its poll campaign in UP as Bihar chief minister himself held over six meetings in various pockets of the UP with liquor ban its main electoral issue.

Its hope first got dashed when the SP refused to take notice of the JD-U and didn’t talk about alliance during the silver jubilee celebration of the party.

Subsequently, it tried to ally with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RJD) but as things stands today, the RLD after being left out of Secular space is said to be bargaining with the BJP for seat adjustment, leaving the JD-U nowhere.