Chief minister Nitish Kumar with Shailendra Pratap Singh in Patna on Friday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s perceived green light to political turncoats has flummoxed JD(U) leaders.

With a possible bypoll looming in Maharajganj Lok Sabha seat, several leaders, like former RJD minister Awadh Bihari Choudhary, former MLA Ram Prawesh Rai, ex-MLC Chandrama Singh and Nitish Kumar’s former ally turned bitter foe Rajiv Ranjan alias Lallan Singh, have joined the JD(U). But, after a marginal player like Shailendra Pratap Singh joined the JD(U) on Friday, several JD(U) leaders are privately questioning his wisdom. “These very leaders had promised to throw Nitish out of power in 2010. People voted overwhelmingly for Nitish and against them. Now, Nitish appears bent on thwarting the people’s mandate by allowing them in,” said a JD(U) MP.

What has upset JD(U) leaders more is Nitish’s presence when Shailendra joined the party. Nitish had not graced earlier occasions when several former MLCs and MLAs joined the JD(U). Welcoming Shailendra, who has been with the Samata Party, RJD, BJP and LJP, Nitish said, “He’s our old friend and I’m very impressed with this dedication and hard work.” A beaming Shailendra said, “I started my political career with Nitishji and am happy to join the party.”

Those who joined JD(U) recently are also peeved. “He did not find time when I joined the party. Can’t he (Nitish) make out who is a big leader?” one of them said. The only people rejoicing are in the LJP, over Shailendra’s exit. For a fact, wherever Shailendra has gone, he has finished the person or the party. Asked why he was not present when leaders like Awadh Narayan Choudhary joined the party, Nitish said: “I don’t think you can make an issue of that. As party chief, Bashistha (Narayan Singh) babu decides whom to invite on such occasions. Today both he and Shailendra had invited me.” JD(U) leaders are not buying that.