Patna, Aug. 14 (Agencies): The Janata Dal (United) on Monday suspended 21 leaders seen as loyalists of Sharad Yadav, the Dal leader who has opposed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Nitish, the JD(U) president, has called a meeting of the national executive in Patna on August 19 to decide the fate of Sharad. The JD(U) had been formed in 2003 when Nitish’s Samata Party merged with the Sharad faction of the Janata Dal. Last week, when Sharad visited the state, the JD(U) had distanced itself from his tour. Ramai Ram had also served as a minister when the RJD was in power, before switching over to the JD(U) in 2010.

Source: The Telegraph August 14, 2017 12:56 UTC