News Analysis India

Tag: Lalu Prasad Yadav

  • lok sabha elections 2024: Daughter Rohini Acharya to contest polls against Lalu Prasad Yadav in Saran

    In a bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once held by her father, Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, faces competition from a namesake of her father. Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar’s Saran district, known for his penchant for contesting elections, has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for the Saran Lok Sabha seat. He submitted his nomination papers on April 26.

    Laloo Prasad Yadav’s history includes previous bids for higher office, such as filing nominations for the 2022 Presidential polls and the 2017 Presidential polls, where his papers were rejected due to insufficient endorsement. Speaking to PTI over the phone, Laloo Prasad Yadav expressed confidence in his electoral prospects, citing his longstanding engagement in agriculture, social work, and his recurrent participation in electoral contests.

    “I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya,” Yadav stated, further expressing optimism about securing victory.In response to criticism labeling him as ‘dharti pakad’ (one who clings on to the earth) and ‘vote katwa’ (one who divides votes), Yadav remained unfazed, asserting his commitment to representing the people of Saran.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”I don’t care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran,” Yadav remarked.According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Yadav’s financial assets include Rs 5 lakh cash in hand, with his wife possessing Rs 2 lakh cash. He also owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh, while his wife’s movable assets amount to Rs 5.20 lakh.The upcoming electoral contest in Saran Lok Sabha constituency promises to be an intriguing one, with the battle lines drawn between political legacies and grassroots activism.

  • Watch: BJP Launches `Mai Modi Ka Parivar Hun` Campaign Song For Lok Sabha Elections 2024

    BJP has launched its campaign song around the slogan ‘Mai Modi Ka Parivar Hu’ for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

  • Amid Nitish Kumar’s Flip-Flop, Lalu Yadav Holds ‘Trump Card’ That Can Help Make Tejashwi CM Of Bihar |

    New Delhi: The political landscape in Bihar is currently ablaze with speculation and heated discussions, primarily centered around the rumored strains between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal United (JDU). Despite the absence of explicit statements from either party regarding a potential split, the air is thick with anticipation for the next move by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    Amidst this uncertainty, the RJD, under the leadership of political heavyweight Lalu Yadav, is actively crafting a counter-strategy. Lalu Yadav, renowned for his political acumen, possesses several strategic options that could potentially reshape the political narrative in Bihar.

    Political experts highlight Assembly Speaker Avadh Bihari Chaudhary as a key asset in Lalu Yadav’s current hand of cards. Chaudhary, an RJD MLA, assumed the role of the assembly speaker through the JDU alliance. Analysts suggest that, under favorable circumstances, Lalu Yadav could leverage Chaudhary’s position to execute strategic political maneuvers, possibly positioning his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

    In the intricate dance of political alliances, it’s crucial to understand the party dynamics in the Bihar Assembly. With a total of 243 seats, the magic number for forming a government is 122. In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD emerged as the largest party with 79 seats, closely followed by the BJP at 78 seats. Nitish Kumar’s JDU secured 45 seats, Congress 19, Left 16, HAM party 5, and one independent.

    Lalu Yadav’s array of options includes the prospect of forming an RJD government by presenting letters of support from 79 RJD, 19 Congress, 16 Communist parties, and independent MLAs. While this would fall seven short of the majority, tactics inspired by the Maharashtra model could be employed. The RJD might attempt to woo JDU MLAs, potentially creating a separate faction under the RJD quota, mirroring the strategy used in Maharashtra.

    Facing potential obstacles, Lalu Yadav could also explore influencing the floor test by convincing JDU MLAs to be absent, thereby reducing the majority figure. Alternatively, inducing resignations from some JDU MLAs could strategically diminish opposition numbers in the assembly, paving the way for RJD to realize its government formation aspirations.

    However, the biggest hurdle in Lalu Yadav’s path is Governor Rajendra Arlekar. The success of these intricate political moves hinges on the Governor’s acceptance of Lalu Yadav’s claim to form the government. If the Governor favors Nitish Kumar, the seasoned political strategist Lalu Yadav might find his arsenal of options rendered powerless. The coming days promise a riveting political saga in Bihar as the battle for power and strategic maneuvering intensifies. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving political drama.

  • 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.

  • BREAKING: Seat-Sharing In INDIA Bloc Will Take Time, Says RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav |

    NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday said that the process of reaching an agreement on seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc is a time-consuming task. He also dispelled rumours of a discord with Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Lalu stated, “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance… it will take time.”

     

    Patna, Bihar | RJD chief Lalu Yadav says “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance…. I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple” pic.twitter.com/lvzN7hogQM
    — ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

     

    Lalu Declines Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Invite

    Simultaneously, the veteran Bihar politician declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. Clarifying his decision, Lalu told reporters, “I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple.” Lalu further said that he would go to Ayodhya for a ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla. He also said that he would write a letter to Ram Temple Trust member Champat Rai, explaining the reason for not coming to attend the ceremony. 

    INDIA Allies Grapple With Seat-Sharing Consensus

    Despite numerous rounds of discussions, INDIA allies continue to grapple with the challenge of reaching a consensus on seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The ongoing struggle further intensified with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declining the offer to become the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

    Growing Discord Within INDIA Bloc

    The Janata Dal (United) has expressed disappointment over the bloc’s failure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategize for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the consensus chairperson, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed Nitish Kumar’s candidature as convener.

    Seat-sharing talks in Bihar among the ruling coalition members faced hurdles over differences in seat adjustment and allotment. JD(U), Congress, and the Left parties, particularly CPI-ML (Liberation), played hardball during the negotiations.

    Kumar’s Strategic Move: Refusal To Become Convener Raises Stakes

    Despite being offered the post, JD(U) chief Kumar declined to become the convener of INDIA, reinforcing his commitment to not taking up any post in the coalition. This strategic move by Kumar keeps opposition parties guessing about his next steps, adding complexity to the ongoing political dynamics.

    Kumar’s refusal to become convener is anticipated to elevate his stature in Bihar politics. As a key figure in the state’s triangular politics, involving the RJD, BJP, and JD(U), Kumar’s decision provides him with multiple strategic options. The upcoming weeks are deemed crucial in Bihar politics, with all parties striving to align their equations effectively, according to political analysts.