New Delhi: The JD(U) has asserted that Sharad Yadav  "voluntarily left" the party and rejected his claim of a split in it. The party also suspended 21 leaders in Bihar, considered loyal to him, for alleged anti-party activities. 

Yadav has been opposing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar`s  decision to join hands and also recently concluded his tree day ‘mass-contact’ programme in the state to take the feedback of the people on break-up of grand alliance and JD (U)-BJP new alliance.  

JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said Yadav can still return to the party but will be "useless" for it if he attends RJD chief Lalu Prasad's rally on August 27.

He claimed "98 per cent of office bearers, 100 per cent of MLAs and 75 per cent of state committees" are with Kumar, who is also the party president, as he refuted Yadav's claim of enjoying support of 14 state units.

On the other hand, Bihar JD(U) president Basistha Narayan Singh has suspended from primary membership 21 leaders and office bearers including former minister Ramai Ram, ex-MP from Sheohar Arjun Rai, former MLA Raj Kishore Sinha and ex-MLC Vijay Varma.

Despite the JD(U) distancing itself from the recent tour of Sharad Yadav to the state, these 21 leaders and district level office bearers were seen with him.

Tyagi, however, also held out an olive branch to Yadav saying he has "sacrificed" a lot for the socialist cause and will be respected like an elder brother if he comes back.

"There is no split in the party. It is as united behind Nitish Kumar as it was until recently. A party does not split if one or two persons leave it.... As far as Sharad ji is concerned, he has left the party voluntarily," he told reporters.

Kumar has called a meeting of party national executive in Patna on August 19.