Johnson Cherian.
At its national executive meeting on Saturday, the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) passed a resolution to formally join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The rebel faction of the party, led by former party president and Rajya Sabha member Sharad Yadav, is holding a separate meeting of party leaders and workers in Patna.
A minor scuffle between supporters of both factions also broke out near the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar where the national executive committee was meeting.
Security has now been beefed up in the area.
The Patna District Magistrate Sanjay Agrawal told media persons that action would be taken against those who were involved in the scuffle.
It is the first JD(U) national executive committee meeting after it snapped ties with the RJD and joined hand with the BJP in Bihar. The JD(U) had snapped ties with the BJP nationally in June 2013 when the party had announced Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate.
Sharad Yadav, who had expressed his displeasure over Mr. Kumar’s decision to forge an alliance with BJP, is holding a separate “Jan Adalat” meeting at Patna’s Sri Krsihna memorial Hall.
Earlier, his party supporters received him at the Patna airport shouting slogans in his support and against Mr. Kumar. Mr. Yadav claimed his faction of the party was the real party as he had the support of 14 State units.
