Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief on Thursday said all is well within the grand alliance, and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar never asked for Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav’s resignation.
While addressing a press conference, Lalu said the grand alliance, which became a reality in Bihar because of his stupendous efforts, remains intact.
“We formed the grand alliance and made Nitish Kumar as Bihar CM. So why will we break the alliance?” Yadav said, adding that “Nitish Kumar is the leader of the mahagathbandhan and we will not tolerate any disrespect towards him.”
The RJD chief blamed the media for planting stories related to rift in ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
However, several statements from the JD(U) and RJD leaders have indicated that there is a widening rift in the state’s ruling grand alliance over the corruption allegations against Tejashwi Yadav.
Interestingly, Janata Dal (United) has repeatedly said that Tejashwi Yadav should come clean on the allegations against him.
With Lalu, categorically ruling out his son Tejashwi’s resignation, the ball is now in Nitish Kumar’s court. JD(U) MLAs are scheduled to meet in the evening.
The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar, comprising of JD(U), RJD and Congress has been jolted, ever since serious corruption charges cropped up against Lalu and his family members including, Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Yadav and Misa Bharti.
Lalu Prasad, his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi and their son Tejashwi Yadav have been named accused in a CBI case related to the transfer of three acres of prime land in Patna to the family by two businessmen allegedly in return for licences granted to run IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri when the RJD chief was the Railway Minister.
The RJD, which has 80 legislators, is adamant that Tejashwi Yadav will not resign.
Notably, Tejashwi Yadav had a closed door meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for over 40 minutes on July 18. It was their first interaction since the crisis surfaced.
Bureau Report
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