Janata Dal(U) rehabilitates George in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal(U) on Wednesday rehabilitated former defence minister George Fernandes by awarding him a Rajya Sabha nomination. Mr Fernandes, who was denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election, had contested as an independent candidate from Muzaffarpur and lost the poll.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had earlier sent out a clear message that he would not countenance indiscipline, took the decision to accommodate Mr Fernandes. The former defence minister���s supporters such as Digvijay Singh have been fomenting trouble in the party. Mr Singh, who left the JD(U) contested as an independent candidate and won the election.

Mr Fernandes no longer commands a political army. He had contested the organisational election and lost to Mr Sharad Yadav.