JD-U suspends 21 including Ramai Ram for anti-party activities

Patna: Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Monday suspended 21 members, including former minister Ramai Ram, on charges of anti-party activities.

The bold step has been taken after they backed rebel veteran Sharad Yadav, who has opposed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to tie up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Among the leaders suspended are Arjun Rai, a former MP from Sitamarhi.

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.