Republic TV has reported that the Congress party is irked with RJD leader and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav’s assertion that there is no place for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the Mahagathbandhan. Senior Congress MLA, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, has said, “Who is Tejaswi to shut the door for Nitish?” He further added, “As far as RJD is concerned we deal with Lalu Ji and not Tejaswi. Who is Tejaswi? Lalu is a seasoned leader.”
Heaping praises on the former Bihar ally, Shakeel Ahmad also stated, “Nitish dialled Lalu Ji because he is not keeping well. There is nothing wrong with it. Nitish is a big leader and all secular forces should come together and Congress is open to it. All Mahagathbandhan parties should come together to fight BJP and Nitish is a big leader who wishes for development of Bihar that has not been fulfilled by BJP government.”
Amidst reports that there was a rift between JD(U) and the BJP over seat-sharing for the General Elections in 2019, Tejaswi Yadav had stated that Nitish Kumar would not be welcome in the Mahagathbandhan should he wish to come back. He had said, “Nitish ji has betrayed people every time. There is no one who chacha (Nitish Kumar) has not duped. If he wishes to come back, there will be no place for him in Mahagathbandhan.”
Nitish ji ne har baar dhokha dene ka kaam kiya hai. Aisa koi saga nahi, jisko humare chacha ne thagaa nahi. Agar woh phirse aana chaahein, mahagathbandhan mein unki koi jagah nahi hogi: Tejashwi Yadav, RJD pic.twitter.com/aargWn6Uqd
— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2018
It appears that although the Congress is eager to forget Nitish Kumar’s past differences and transgressions, the RJD may not be so willing. Also, the Congress has made it abundantly clear now that it is willing to deal with a person convicted of corruption if it helps them regain political power.
