KC Tyagi resigns as JD(U) spokesperson sparks differences with allay BJP

Janata Dal (United) spokesperson KC Tyagi, whose stand on different issues often highlighted his party’s differences with ally BJP, has resigned, the regional party said on Sunday. It attributed Tyagi’s resignation to “personal reasons”.

However, it is believed that frequent comments by Tyagi, who is based in Delhi and enjoys an unlikely high profile in the national media for a regional party leader due to his experience and articulation, on central government’s policies were seen as unhelpful to the BJP-JD(U) ties.

His resignation comes in the backdrop of his recent articulation of some rather aggressive positions on ideological issues dear to the  BJP, according to sources in the JD(U). These statements on certain “sensitive issues” put the party in a difficult position within the NDA, the sources added.

Be it on the Uniform Civil Code, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill or even the government’s position on the Palestine issue among other issues, the socialist leader’s outspoken stand did not go down well with many within the party and embarrassed the BJP, sources said.

What also worked against Tyagi was a recent joint statement he issued with Opposition leaders on the Israel-Hamas.  warWith two senior JD(U) leaders, including Union minister Lalan Singh and its parliamentary party leader Sanjay Jha, based in Delhi, party sources said there is a view that the two leaders should be left to shape the ties with the BJP without frequent public interjections of Tyagi.

The party functionary, however, said there was no pressure from the BJP and the decision was taken suo motu by Nitish Kumar.  Only 10 days ago, when Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan expressed his reservations about a UPSC advertisement soliciting applications for appointments to top government posts through lateral entry — saying his party was “absolutely not in support” of the move — Tyagi went a step further saying the government had given a “weapon in the hands of the Opposition” and the move would make “Rahul Gandhi a champion of the depressed classes”.