The Samata Party is heading for a split. The proxy battle at Patna is set to shift to New Delhi. Given the level of mistrust which has developed between party president and Defence Minister George Fernandes and Railways Minister Nitish Kumar, the two may part company with each other sooner than later.The reason for the current turmoil is simple — Kumar, conscious of his enormous mass-base in his state, is itching to charter an independent course, sans Fernandes. Though it is premature to gauge the pattern of division, the emerging contours indicate that Kumar would walk away with a larger chunk of the Bihar unit, with Fernandes leading a majority of the 12 party MPs. There is, however, no immediate possibility of Kumar leaving the ruling NDA.Meanwhile, Samata Party MP Raghunath Jha today challenged Kumar to prove his popularity by contesting elections from Barh constituency.Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav, presiding a tiny four-member group, is waiting in the wings. Weakened, he would be only too happy to join hands with Kumar. It would help both — enabling Kumar to protect his vital railways portfolio and giving Yadav a chance to bid for a better portfolio.Fernandes may make up the impending erosion in his strength by making common cause with Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who presides an eight-member group.The bigger game at New Delhi aside, Fernandes may be forced to think afresh on his Lok Sabha constituency. Nalanda may no longer be a safe proposition. Stumped by Kumar’s offensive, he withheld his comments on the current party crisis while talking to media persons at Dhanbad today.
