The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday expelled party spokesperson and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ranbir Nandan over anti-party activities, triggering speculations of his potential return to the BJP following his exit a decade ago.
Nandan took to social media to share a screenshot of his resignation letter addressed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan,’ informing them of his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party.
While Nandan did not provide a specific reason for his departure, JD(U)’s state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha issued a statement accusing him of “issuing press releases and statements that ran contrary to the ideological stance of the party.”
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Kushwaha’s statement also declared that Nandan would be stripped of all party positions and primary membership and “expelled for a period of six years.”
An academician by profession, Nandan, who was once the co-convener of BJP’s ‘buddhijivi prakoshth’ (intellectual cell) in Bihar, switched sides to join JD(U) in 2013, shortly after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s initial departure from the NDA.
Kumar’s exit was prompted by differences regarding the national rise of Narendra Modi, who was Gujarat’s Chief Minister at the time.
In 2014, Kumar recognised Nandan’s loyalty by nominating him to the state legislative council, despite Nandan’s previous criticism of the BJP for the JD(U) split.
Upon the completion of his term, Nandan was not considered for a second stint in the legislative council but was appointed as a state spokesperson for the party.
In recent times, Nandan had created unease within JD(U) ranks by adopting a confrontational stance towards the RJD, the party’s current dominant ally.
In private conversations, he reminisced about the smooth partnership with the BJP, which came to an end last year.
Furthermore, his absence from a recent meeting of JD(U)’s state spokespersons raised eyebrows and added to the growing speculation surrounding his political allegiance.