Sunday, April 9 2006 12:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A tussle is on the cards for the top post in Janata Dal (United) with senior leader Sharad Yadav throwing his hat in the ring to challenge incumbent George Fernandes who has been at the helm of affairs of the party for the last several years.

Yadav, known to be close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, filed his nomination here yesterday in the backdrop of growing churnings in the party which has recently come to power in Bihar heading a coalition with the BJP.

Fernandes, who also filed his nomination yesterday (Apr 09, 2006), had made his intentions known to seek re-election for the top JD(U) job by announcing a few days back that he would be filing his nomination.

With both Fernandes and Yadav filing nominations for the party presidentship, voting is now set to take place to elect its chief on April 11 during the party's national convention in Patna.

Yadav headed the undivided Janata Dal

Yadav had headed the undivided Janata Dal in 1996-97 before the outfit split after a similar battle between him and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who then floated the RJD.

Yesterday six sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Yadav from Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

Four sets of nominations were submitted in Fernandes' favour from the state units of Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

The last date for filing nomination papers is April 10, while scrutiny will also be held on the same day. Tomorrow is also the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

In the event of a contest, voting by the national council members, will be held on April 11 in Patna during the party's national convention to be held there.