The Election Commission today ruled that the group led by Nitish Kumar is the real Janata Dal (United) and said that the faction is entitled to use the 'Arrow' symbol of the party.
The poll panel’s decision also paves the way for the Janata Dal (United) to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Gujarat on its symbol.
The EC, in its order, said the group led by Kumar has demonstrated overwhelming majority support in the legislature wing as well as the majority in the national council of the party, which is the apex organisational body of the JD(U).
"The group led by Nitish Kumar is hereby recognised as the Janata Dal (United)...Consequently, the group led by Nitish Kumar is entitled to use the reserved symbol 'Arrow' of the party as a recognised State Party in Bihar," the order reads.
The decision is a huge setback for the faction led by Sharad Yadav who had moved the EC claiming that his group was the real JD(U) and that it should be given the right to contest polls using the ‘Arrow’ symbol.
The battle over the ‘Arrow’ symbol began after Nitish Kumar moved out of the Grand Alliance government of the JD(U), RJD and Congress on July 26 earlier this year and joined the ranks with BJP to form government.
