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Samata Party splits in Bihar

The Samata Party on Friday suffered a split as a rebel group elected Raghunath Jha as president of the party in Bihar. Six of the party's 11 MPs pledged support to him.

However, only one legislator extended support to Jha while the other 28 continued to back the parent party of Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, the state council of the Samata Party authorised Nitish Kumar to nominate the president of the state unit. Nitish, however, told newspersons that there is no time frame for nominating the state unit chief.

Interestingly, Nitish has deferred the election to the post of party president, which was to be held on Friday. He, however, announced the names of members of the party's national council.

Nitish later also announced that the National Council meeting is to take place in Mysore next week.

Talk of a split had been in the air for quite some time as a section of the party headed by Nitish Kumar were in favour of merger with Janata Dal (United) whereas another opposed the move.

Union Defence Minister and senior Samata Party leader George Fernandes had only on Wednesday night averted a split by brokering peace between the warring factions.

However, following this, Nitish Kumar handed over his resignation letter from the Union Cabinet to Fernandes.

George Fernandes has been in New Delhi and keeping away from the party's problems. It is still unclear whose side he will take.

Significantly, Minister of State for Railways Digvijay Singh and Renu Kumari, party MP from Khagaria, were with Nitish.

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