Kumar Bahukhandi
Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar – Photo : channel24india.com
With the beginning of the new year, the sound of change has also intensified in the political corridors of Bihar. Former CM Lalu Yadav has once again offered CM Nitish Kumar to join the India Alliance. Nitish Kumar responded to this in this manner.
Patna : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday January 2, 2025 responded in a different way to RJD president Lalu Yadav’s proposal to return to the India Block. When asked by reporters about Lalu’s new proposal, the JD(U) chief said, “What are you saying?” Let us tell you that Nitish Kumar has formed an alliance with India Block constituent RJD twice in the last decade.
However, Lalu Yadav’s son and successor Tejashwi Yadav downplayed the comments made by his father in an interview to a local news channel, claiming that the RJD supremo had only tried to satisfy the media’s curiosity. Lalu had said, “Our doors are open (for Nitish). He should also open his doors. This will make the movement of people from both sides easier.” The comment comes in the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s stance in which he has talked about projecting the JD(U) supremo as the face of the NDA in the assembly elections to be held in less than a year. This has heated up the market of speculation in a section of the media here.
Nitish Kumar was asked questions by reporters at the Raj Bhawan where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Arif Mohammad Khan as the new Governor. CM Nitish Kumar, flanked by Arif Khan and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary (both BJP) smiled with folded hands when asked for his comment on Lalu Yadav’s offer. When pressed further, he asked, “What are you saying?” When asked if the state government will be able to complete its term, Arif Khan intervened, saying, “This is not the right time to ask such questions. Today is a happy day. We should only talk about good things.”
Later, a group of reporters approached former deputy CM and current leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who had come to attend the ceremony, who had announced on Wednesday that the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government will go in the new year. “I have already made my stand clear.” When asked further about his father’s statements, Tejashwi Yadav said, “What will he do if people like you keep coming to him with the same question?” Whatever he might have said, it must have been aimed at satisfying your curiosity.
When asked about Prasada during a conversation with reporters, Union Minister and former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan” said, “NDA is strong. JD(U) and BJP are united. It is a free society and anyone can say whatever they want. Lalu ji should have more say on his words.” It is believed that when Nitish Kumar was out of the NDA, Lallan had become very close to the RJD supremo. It was rumoured that this was the reason why the de facto chief of the JD(U) decided to become the party president.
JDU leader Lallan Singh – Photo : channel24india.com
‘We are with NDA’ Lallan Singh reacts to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement
Reacting to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement that the doors of the alliance are always open for CM Nitish Kumar, Union Minister and JDU leader Lallan Singh on Thursday confirmed that his party is with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “We are with the NDA and with full firmness. I cannot react to what people say, there is freedom of expression. People can say whatever they want,” Singh told media persons. This comes after Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement in which he said that the doors of the opposition alliance are always open for CM Nitish Kumar.
However, reacting to Lalu’s statements, his son Tejashwi Yadav said, “You keep asking him this, what else will he say? He said this just to calm you all down.” Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that the RJD supremo is making such statements due to ‘fear’. Nitish Kumar knows Lalu Prasad Yadav inside out, Lalu Prasad Yadav is just scared.
Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan said, “If the followers of Gandhi disassociate themselves from the followers of Godse, we are with them.” Earlier on Tuesday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav took a resolution for Bihar in 2025, promising to end unemployment and migration from the state. Speaking about his vision for the upcoming year, Yadav announced, “In the new year, we have resolved that this time we will end unemployment and migration from Bihar. We will form a new government in the new year.” The RJD leader said that if a new government is formed, it will focus on key sectors like education, medicine, income, irrigation and accountability. He also stressed the need for significant reforms in the administrative machinery of the state. “We will form a government where there will be education, medicine, income, irrigation, hearing and action, where bureaucracy will be eliminated,” Yadav said. Yadav expressed confidence that his vision will come true with the support and blessings of the people. He said, “If the blessings of all the people are with us, we will succeed in our resolution.” Yadav reiterated that the primary goal of this year is to take Bihar forward in terms of economic progress and social welfare. He said, in this new year, we have to take Bihar forward.
