Sharad Yadav to get third term as JD(U) chief

New Delhi: Sharad Yadav is all set to score a hat-trick as JD(U) President as the party prepares for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for 2014. Yadav is the only candidate to have filed nomination for the party chief's election scheduled on April 14 and his continuation at the helm is now a foregone conclusion.

Tuesday was the last day for filing the nomination. Yadav accompanied by a number of senior party leaders came to the party office on Tuesday to file his nomination.

April 13 is the last day for withdrawing nomination. Yadav had been the President of JD(U) twice after being elected in place of George Fernandes.

JD(U)'s party constitution allows an incumbent president only two consecutive terms. Sources, however, say that party President is empowered to amend the Constitution and the necessary amendment has already been carried out on April 5 to make sure that Yadav gets the third term.

The amendment could be ratified at the national executive meeting if the need arose. Yadav, who is also the NDA convener, is getting the third stint as JD(U) Chief at a time when there is intense speculation whether his party will remain with the BJP-led alliance amid increased focus on Narendra Modi ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

JD(U)s aversion to Modi is a known fact, which has been given expression many times by a number of leaders and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in particular. The two-day national executive meeting of the JD(U), which will put its stamp on the new President's election, will also discuss in detail the political situation in the country.

"We will take stock of the political situation prevailing in the country and related issues at our party's national executive to be held in New Delhi on April 13-14," Kumar had said in Patna on Monday in reply to questions about the future of JD(U)'s alliance with BJP, which is under palpable strain.

"We will also apprise NDA of our deliberations and opinion on various political issues," he had said to repeated questions on his stand that BJP announce its prime ministerial candidate in advance.