Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar, dismissed rumors that the Janata Dal (United) and the RJD were allegedly divorcing ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, calling the rumors “divorced from ground reality.”
Tejashwi made his remarks following a meeting with Bihar president Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar at his home on Friday, along with his father and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. After the discussion with Nitish, Tejashwi told reporters that “ground reality” and rumors of a rift were unrelated.
Yadav apologised, saying, “I feel sorry when you people ask questions that seem so divorced from ground reality.”
Why is there so much interest in learning when Mahagathbandhan’s seat-sharing arrangement was probably set to end? The Bihar Deputy Chief Minister questioned, “Has the BJP-led NDA sorted it out in its own camp?” He answered, “Nobody gives a damn about that.”
Regarding Home Minister Amit Shah’s interview with a Hindi newspaper, it was revealed that the JD(U) chief would not be shut out in response to a question regarding Kumar, who left the BJP less than two years ago.
With a mocking reply, the youthful RJD leader said, “I’m not sure. Perhaps you folks understand what Amit Shah was trying to say better than he did.
Yadav declared, “We are running a government that will not be distracted from the agenda of working for the people.” Yadav is under investigation by the ED and has ignored multiple summonses from the organization. Together, the RJD and JD(U) are determined to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
JD(U)-RJD Rift?
There has been talk of a possible falling out between the two Mahagathbandhan allies. JD(U) leaders have been pushing for a speedy seat-sharing agreement, but the RJD supremo rejected this idea a few days ago.
There are several theories as to why the JD(U), who fought as an NDA partner and won 16 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, would not consent to a lower number this time around and why the RJD, which came up empty, would insist on the majority due to its greater numerical strength in the assembly.
Will Nitish return to the NDA?
An old BJP partner, Nitish Kumar, had called off the coalition in August 2023, claiming the saffron party was attempting to fracture the JD(U) and promising to unite the whole opposition to defeat the NDA in 2024.
He was instrumental in the development of the INDIA bloc and arranged the first gathering of anti-BJP figures in Patna, where they resolved to put the past behind them.
Recently, the state’s longest-serving chief minister assumed the role of JD(U) president, succeeding close aide Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan,” who was said to have been too close to the RJD camp.
Ahead of the general elections, there are also rumors that Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) may break their links to the RJD and re-join the BJP-led NDA.
In the meantime, the Bihar BJP head appeared to take a jab at the JD(U) supremo when he stated that Nitish was free to seek for the primary membership of the BJP if he so desired.
Kumar had chastised the Congress a few months prior for losing sight of India due to its obsession with assembly elections in a few states.
He declined the INDIA bloc’s offer of a convener position last week, stating that he did not desire a title for himself and that the coalition should instead concentrate on improving partner collaboration.
But according to a senior adviser who claimed to have observed the coalition’s virtual meeting, Kumar was “irritated by the proposal because it was made so late and seemed like a last-minute idea, especially considering his position as the alliance’s creator.”
Many unsatisfied partners have been rumored to be planning to break away from the INDIA bloc and create their own alliance in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Farooq Abdullah, the president of the National Conference, said on Thursday that the INDIA bloc could be in danger if a decision on seat sharing is not made quickly, claiming that some members might attempt to establish their own organization.
