JD(U) Launches Formal Bid to Disqualify Veteran MP Giridhari Yadav
In a significant political development, the Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday commenced formal proceedings to seek the disqualification of its own Lok Sabha member, Giridhari Yadav, from the Banka constituency. The party has leveled serious accusations of anti-party activities against the veteran parliamentarian, marking a sharp escalation in internal disciplinary actions.
Formal Complaint Lodged with Lok Sabha Speaker
JD(U) parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha, Dileshwar Kamait, met with Speaker Om Birla in Parliament and submitted a detailed formal complaint seeking the termination of Yadav's membership. The petition specifically alleges that Yadav actively campaigned against the JD(U)'s official candidate in the Belhar constituency during the 2025 Bihar assembly elections.
The controversy centers around Yadav's son, Chanakya Prakash Ranjan, who contested the Belhar seat on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket. According to JD(U) officials, the party has gathered substantial evidence demonstrating that Giridhari Yadav supported his son's campaign directly against his own party's candidate, creating a clear conflict of interest.
Background of the Political Conflict
Although Chanakya ultimately lost the election by a considerable margin to JD(U) candidate Manoj, the party leadership has taken an extremely serious view of the incident. Kamait emphasized that he filed the petition under explicit party direction and maintained that the evidence unequivocally shows Yadav worked against JD(U) interests.
Giridhari Yadav is a seasoned politician who has represented the Banka Lok Sabha seat four times since 1996. His political journey includes victories on a Janata Dal ticket in 1996, an RJD ticket in 2004, and JD(U) tickets in both 2019 and 2024. This long tenure makes the current disciplinary action particularly noteworthy.
Additional Controversies and Party Embarrassment
The MP has faced mounting criticism within JD(U) ranks since July 2025 for making public remarks against the Election Commission and questioning the reliability of electronic voting machines. Party leaders have stated these comments caused significant embarrassment to the JD(U), which operates as a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Despite receiving a formal show-cause notice earlier regarding these statements, Yadav allegedly continued expressing personal views that directly contradicted the JD(U)'s official position, further straining his relationship with party leadership.
Responses from Involved Parties
Yadav firmly denied all allegations on Wednesday, asserting there exists no credible record of anti-party activity against him. He declared his readiness to present his case comprehensively if summoned by the Lok Sabha Speaker for further proceedings.
RJD MP Misa Bharti offered a different perspective, noting that Giridhari's adult son made an independent choice to contest on an RJD ticket. "His son has contested the election from RJD and he is an adult. An adult can take his own decision," she stated, suggesting the situation involves family political diversity rather than deliberate anti-party action.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad defended the disciplinary move as being essential for protecting the party's interests and maintaining organizational discipline. The action underscores the JD(U)'s commitment to enforcing loyalty among its elected representatives, particularly when their actions are perceived as undermining party unity and electoral prospects.
