Janata Dal (United) rebel Sharad Yadav, who had opposed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party, was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha late on Monday. Upper House Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu made the decision based on a petition filed by the party, NDTV reported.

The order said Yadav had “voluntarily given up his membership of the political party, Janata Dal (United), by which he was set up as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha” and has “incurred disqualification”. The JD(U) veteran’s membership from the Upper House stands cancelled with immediate effect.

Ali Anwar, another JD(U) member, was also disqualified from the Rajya Sabha for taking a cue from Yadav’s actions and indulging in alleged “anti-party activities”.

Yadav and Anwar broke away from the JD(U) after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted from the alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal to tie up with the BJP in July. On September 5, JD(U) leaders RCP Singh and Sanjay Jha submitted a petition to Naidu, seeking the disqualification of the two MPs.