News Analysis India

Tag: janata dal united

  • Will Railway Ministry Become Bone Of Contention In NDA Govt? JDU MP Confirms Demand |

    Amid speculations over Janta Dal United’s possible demands in the Narendra Modi led NDA government, JDU MP-elect Lovely Anand and her gansgter-turned politician husband Anand Mohan confirmed party’s demand of Railway Ministry. Lovely Anand, while speaking to the reporters said, “Railway Ministry certainly should be given, it has always happened. Bihar should also get special status.”

    #WATCH | Delhi | On being asked if the Railway ministry portfolio should be given to JD(U) in the new Cabinet, JD(U) MP-elect from Bihar’s Sheohar, Lovely Anand says, “Yes, it certainly should be given, it has always happened. Bihar should also get special status.” pic.twitter.com/iKeYJ2Zzu6


    — ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2024

    Lovely’s husband, Anand Mohan, while speaking to the press said, “The demand for the railway ministry is confirmed. It has been in Bihar’s share… The Backward Bihar needs the railway ministry… The CM took Bihar out of ‘jungle-raj’ and made a developing Bihar in the last 16 years. If we want to give it wings, then the ‘special’ state demanded must be fulfilled.”

    Mohan clarified that he was not part of the meeting and he had come to pay a unofficial courtesy visit to CM Nitish at his residence. 

    #WATCH | Delhi: On JDU parliamentary meeting at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s residence, gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan says, “The demand for the railway ministry is confirmed. It has been in Bihar’s share… The Backward Bihar needs the railway ministry… The CM took Bihar… pic.twitter.com/XThO9b0WFV


    — ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2024

    NDA Ally Nitish Kumar Slams INDIA Opposition Alliance 

    Days after the results of the Lok Sabha election, JDU chief Nitish Kumar attacked the INDIA opposition alliance on Friday, saying that it had never served the nation’s interests. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the nation will advance, Kumar said while addressing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentary meeting in Delhi.

    “Agli baar jab aap aaiye toh kuch log jo idhar udhar jeet gaya hai, agli baar sab haarega. Humko poora bharosa hai (Those who have won this time will lose the next elections. I’m confident about it). They never worked for the nation. They never served the country. The country will progress under your (PM Modi) leadership” said Kumar.

    During his address at the NDA meeting, the JDU chief also affirmed his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “All pending Bihar projects will be completed. It’s great that we’ve all come together, and we’ll all work with you (PM Modi). You will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Sunday, but I wanted you to do so today. We will be there for you whenever you take the oath…We will all work together under your leadership.”

    The newly elected MPs of the NDA attended the meeting of the alliance, which was held days after the Lok Sabha results.

  • Nitish Kumar Govt To Review Functioning Of Departments Held By Former Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav |

    PATNA: In a significant political development, the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on Friday ordered a probe to review the functioning of the departments under the state’s former Deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his close ministers in the previous JDU-RJD government. According to news agency ANI, orders have been given by the Bihar government to review the functioning of the departments under Tejashwi and his close ministers in the previous government. 

     

    Patna | Orders have been given by the Bihar government to review the functioning of the departments under former state Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav and his close ministers in the previous government. The work of the Health Department, Road Construction Department, Urban Development and… pic.twitter.com/MYbaldPaWz


    — ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2024

     

    The work of the Health Department, Road Construction Department, Urban Development and Housing Department and the decisions taken by him will be reviewed, the order said. Apart from this, the work of the RJD regime in the Rural Affairs Department, PHED and Mines and Geology Department will also be reviewed. Instructions have also been issued by the state government to the secretaries of all concerned departments in this connection, said news agency ANI.

    The order came shortly after Tejashwi Yadav launched a fresh attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while addressing the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and said that the CM does not want to listen to anyone. “You all very well know how our CM is, he does not want to listen to anyone. He used to say ‘I will die, but won’t join BJP’…We decided to stay with Nitish ji, no matter how much we have to sacrifice, only to defeat BJP in 2024…’ Hum logo ne ek thake hue mukhyamantri ko Niyukt kiya hai’…” said RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    “He does not want to listen to anyone, but still, ours was a grand alliance government, and we wanted to be united with a big goal, We have to stop the powers that be, those who work to sow poison in the country, so this time at any cost, no matter how much we have to bear, no matter how much we have to sacrifice, we joined Nitish ji, so that BJP will be defeated in 2024. We will do the work of ousting BJP from power and we appointed a tired Chief Minister, ” added Tejashwi Yadav.

    Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav joined Rahul Gandhi in his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ on Friday in Bihar’s Sasaram. The Yatra reaches it’s final stage in Bihar and is scheduled to enter Uttar Pradesh later today.

    Yadav was seen driving Rahul Gandhi and other leaders in the lead jeep as the yatra made its way through Sasaram with the RJD leader acknowledging his ally in his post on x. This was the first time the RJD leader was seen sharing the stage with Gandhi in Bihar since state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar severed his ties with the INDIA bloc.

  • As Bihar Parties Welcome ‘Bharat Ratna’ To Karpoori Thakur, RJD Calls It ‘A BJP Poll Gimmick’ |

    New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the government’s decision to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna on former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United president Nitish Kumar too hailed the move, calling it a good decision by the Centre. However, JD-U’s ally RJD has termed the move as a “political gimmick” of BJP. “My political and ideological guru, Late Karpoori Thakur ji, should have received Bharat Ratna long ago. We raised this voice from the House to the streets, but the Central Government woke up when the present Bihar government of social concern conducted the caste census and increased the scope of reservation for the benefit of Bahujans. The fear is true; politics will have to focus on the concerns of Dalit Bahujan,” RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav posted on X.

    Family Hails Move

    On Tuesday evening, the government announced its decision to award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to Karpoori Thakur posthumously. Following the announcement, family members of the late Bihar CM exchanged sweets in recognition of the forthcoming Bharat Ratna honour. Soon after the government announced that Karpoori Thakur would be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, his son and JD(U) MP Ram Nath Thakur said that he didn’t see it from the side of politics.

    “I want to thank the Central government from my side as well as on behalf of my party and people of Bihar…I don’t see it from the side of politics. His (Karpoori Thakur’s) 100th birthday is tomorrow so maybe in view of that Central govt took this decision,” Thakur said.

    LJP Expresses Gratitude To PM 

    Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan expressed express gratitude to the Government and the Prime Minister.

    “I express gratitude to the Government of India and the Prime Minister. Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur had been a long-pending demand of the people of Bihar as well as the entire country…Today, the PM honoured that demand of the people” Paswan said.

    BJP Hails Move

    Bihar LoP and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha said that the PM has honoured all Biharis by honouring ‘Jannayak’ Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna. “We had made the demand from the PM earlier too. Last year, he had said that this would be considered seriously. The PM has honoured all Biharis by honouring ‘Jannayak’ Karpoori Thakur with the Bharat Ratna. Entire Bihar is expressing gratitude to the PM because this is an honour for the entire state,” Sinha said.

    Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras said that the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “historic.” “PM Narendra Modi has made a historic decision. The people of Bihar and the entire country are thankful to him for this decision…The PM made a historic decision. He will now be considered a messiah of the backward and Dalits,” Paras said.

    Moreover, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Thakur was such an honest leader that it is discussed even today. “He connected the poor, the deprived and the backward to the mainstream…I express gratitude to the Prime Minister for conferring the Bharat Ratna on him. This is an honour of the poor and their voice, of the backwards…Several of the previous governments used to think about only the people around them. Some of them thought only about their own families. Narendra Modi Government thinks about the entire country,” Prasad said.

    He further said that awarding Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna is an honour of the poor, the backward of the country “For this much-awaited decision, I express my gratitude. Awarding Karpoori Thakur with Bharat Ratna is an honour of the poor, the backward of the country,” he said.

    BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain thanked the Prime Minister on behalf of the entire people of Bihar. “It is good news for Bihar. ..I thank the central govt…he deserves it, this was a demand of the Bihar people…This was fulfilled when a poor person’s son became Prime Minister. I thank PM Modi on behalf of the entire people of Bihar. Karpoori Thakur was the real leader of Bihar, he did so many things for the state,” Hussain said.

    Union Minister Nityanand Rai expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and said that Karpoori Thakur’s entire life was dedicated to the poor and deprived. “First of all, I would like to express gratitude to PM Narendra Modi. Karpoori Thakur’s entire life was dedicated to the poor and deprived…Those who do politics in his name never thought for him, they just did politics in his name. Parties formed the government with Congress but Karpoori Thakur did not get the honour,” Rai said.

    BJP MP Sushil Modi said that PM Narendra Modi has done that historic work which no other PM could do to date. “Narendra Modi has done that historic work which no other PM could do till date. Son of an OBC – Narendra Modi – has honoured a crusader of OBC with the Bharat Ratna. Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav used to demand the Bharat Ratna but why could they not do it when they were Union Ministers? Narendra Modi is fulfilling the dreams of Karpoori Thakur,” Sushil Modi said.

    Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary called it a historic decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This is a historic decision. Thanks to the Prime Minister. By conferring the Bharat Ratna on ‘Gudri Ka Laal’, freedom fighter and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, PM Modi’s government has enhanced the pride of Bihar,” Choudhary said. “Narendra Modi’s government has enhanced the honour of Bihar today. On behalf of everyone in Bihar, I thank him for awarding Bharat Ratna to ‘Gudri Ke Laal’, freedom fighter and former CM Karpoori Thakur…PM Modi guarantees that he will fulfil everyone’s dreams – be it Lalu Yadav’s, Nitish Kumar’s, Congress Party’s or Ram Vilas’s. Only PM Modi can fulfil everyone’s dreams,” he added.

    RLJD Says Historic Decision

    RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha said that it is a historic moment for all and for those who fought for poor and backward people. “It is a historic moment for all of us and for those who fought for poor and backward people. We are grateful to PM Modi for this decision. Karpoori Thakur deserved this and we have been demanding it for a long time but the Government of India did not listen to us. However PM Modi has done it,” Kushwaha said.

    Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said that this honour was for the pride of the poor, the deprived – someone who had become an example with his simplicity and honesty – Jannayak Karpoori Thakur.

    Historic Decision Or Political Gimmick?

    While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar praised the Centre, his alliance partner in the state RJD said it was done to get votes.
    RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwari said the BJP was verbally abusing Karpoori Thakur when he was alive and did not remember him for 9 years.

    “Central Government decided to award Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur. The BJP was verbally abusing him while he was alive and did not remember him for 9 years. Our party and leader Lalu Yadav were demanding Bharat Ratna for him continuously. Now that elections are near, they are remembering Karpoori Thakur and awarded him the Bharat Ratna. They are remembering him for votes,” Tiwari said.

    Bharat Ratna A Tribute To Thakur’s Social Justice Crusade

    Beyond the political discourse, the Bharat Ratna is hailed as a tribute to Karpoori Thakur’s relentless struggle for social justice. Known as ‘Jan Nayak,’ his commitment to uplifting the underprivileged sections of society is highlighted. The award recognizes Thakur’s monumental contributions to Indian politics, marked by a dedicated fight against social discrimination and inequality.

    Legacy Of Janata Dal Leader: A Lifelong Struggle For the Marginalized

    Karpoori Thakur’s legacy extends beyond party affiliations. His journey from the Praja Socialist Party to the Janata Dal reflects a commitment to affirmative action and the empowerment of the poor and marginalized. Born on January 24, 1924, and passing away on February 17, 1988, Thakur’s impact on Indian politics remains significant, with the Bharat Ratna serving as a posthumous acknowledgment of his enduring contribution.

  • Will Nitish Kumar Join NDA Again? Late Evening Meeting Between Bihar CM, Lalu-Tejashwi Fuels Speculation |

    With the Lok Sabha elections approaching closer, speculations of a rift between Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD leaders Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav have again taken centre stage. While Lau-Tejashwi met Kumar at his residence yesterday, a JD(U) minister claimed that the doors of NDA are still open. On the other hand, a meeting was held at BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha’s residence as well.

    It’s being claimed that Nitish Kumar, who was upset after the RJD did not back him for the INDIA Bloc’s convenor post, is now not ready to cede space for the RJD to contest more seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The seat-sharing issue is the latest bone of contention between the JDU and the RJD. There is widespread speculation that the JD(U), having secured 16 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as part of the NDA alliance, may be unwilling to accept a reduced seat count in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the RJD, despite not winning any seats previously, is expected to assert its claim for a substantial share, emphasizing its larger numerical representation in the assembly.

    RJD president Lalu Prasad, accompanied by his son Tejashwi Yadav, the Deputy CM, called on ally Nitish Kumar at his residence. After the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav said that there is no rift between the parties and both parties will contest a respectable number of seats.

    “I feel sorry when you people ask questions that seem so divorced from ground reality. Why is there so much curiosity about when seat-sharing was likely to be final in Mahagathbandhan? Has the BJP-led NDA sorted it out in its own camp? Nobody cares about that,” said Yadav.

    Yadav was also asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s interview with a Hindi daily in which his response to a query on Kumar, who dumped the BJP less than two years ago, was being interpreted as an admission of doors not being shut on the JD(U) boss. Shah said that if a proposal comes, then the BJP will think about that. Now, Bihar’s Building and Construction Minister Ashok Chaudhary claimed Shah has never said that the doors of the NDA are closed for JD(U). “Amit Shah never said that NDA’s doors for the JD(U) are closed. He always said that if JD(U) sends a proposal on it, then he would consider it. We have not given any proposal to the BJP,” Chaudhary said.

    Meanwhile, the JDU’s X handle has posted a video in which Tejashwi Yadav has almost disappered. In the 1.29 minutes long video that claims Bihar’s overall development under Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi was seen only once for a few seconds.

    सबकी मददगार… नीतीश सरकार।

    बिहार में हर वर्ग और हर तबके के लोगों का हो रहा उत्थान।#JDU #bihar #Nitishkumar #NitishModel pic.twitter.com/odmfEj6NMt


    — Janata Dal (United) (@Jduonline) January 20, 2024

    However, it is being said that Kumar wants the BJP to make a move first. In August 2022, Kumar, a former ally of the BJP, terminated the alliance, accusing the saffron party of attempting to divide the JD(U) and expressing determination to defeat the NDA in 2024 by uniting the entire opposition. He played a pivotal role in forming the INDIA bloc and hosted its inaugural meeting in Patna, where leaders opposed to the BJP came together, setting aside past differences.

    Kumar recently got appointed as the JD(U) president succeeding his close aide Rajiv Ranjan Singh “Lalan,” who was rumored to have developed close ties with the RJD camp. Despite being the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state, Kumar had, a few months ago, criticized the Congress for losing focus on INDIA due to its preoccupation with assembly polls in select states.