News Analysis India

Tag: Mahagathbandhan

  • Lok Sabha polls 2024: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress announces a list of 7 candidates for upcoming polls in Bihar and Punjab

    The Central Election Committee of the Congress party has selected candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar and Punjab. The meeting, chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid, and Ambika Soni, finalized the candidates for several key constituencies.Bihar CandidatesPaschim Champaran: Madan Mohan TiwariMuzaffarpur: Ajay NishadMaharajganj: Akash Prasad SinghSamastipur (SC): Sunny HazariSasaram (SC): Manoj KumarPunjab CandidatesHoshiarpur (SC): Ms. Yamini GomarFaridkot (SC): Smt. Amarjit Kaur SahokeAllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesWhile the Congress is contesting all the 13 seats in Punjab, in Bihar it is set to field candidates on nine seats and is part of the Mahagathbandhan formation with RJD and the Left parties.

    The Congress has so far declared 285 candidates for the seven phase parliamentary polls that began on April 19.

  • Pappu Yadav: Bihar: Pappu Yadav adds to Congress woes, says will enter LS fray from Purnea as Independent

    Purnea: Congress leader Pappu Yadav on Thursday said he would file his nomination from Purnea as an Independent candidate.

    The move could stir up trouble in the INDIA bloc in the state, as the Congress and the RJD recently clinched a seat-sharing deal as part of which the former set aside Purnea for the latter.

    Thereafter, the RJD candidate Bima Bharti filed her nomination from Purnea.”… Today is a new chapter of my life because I have won everyone’s heart and I have received everyone’s blessings. I will work for the strength of INDIA bloc, Congress at any cost. The county wants Rahul Gandhi to be the PM. The country has seen enough caste discrimination and Hindu-Muslim divide, now there should be talk about the youth of this country and the economy of the country…,” Yadav said, speaking to reporters on Thursday.

    Yadav said that though he was distressed in the last few days he has won the heart of the country.

    “I have definitely been tortured and distressed in the last 14 days but I have won the heart of the country. Winning elections doesn’t matter to me. I wan to win the trust of the country and I have won the trust of Bihar,” Yadav said speaking to reporters on Thursday.Speaking about his relations with the Congress, Yadav said, “Congress family is with me, I have won their trust and I’ll be with this family forever.”Pappu Yadav, who has been an independent MP from Purnea twice, was demanding a ticket from the Congress Party.

    It is worth noting that the former MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, who merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress, is adamant about contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Purnia constituency, the seat given to the RJD as per the agreement reached by the alliance.

    His stand has put pressure on the Grand Alliance in Bihar.The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia, in the upcoming elections.

    Pappu Yadav has even urged RJD supremo Lalu Yadav to reconsider his decision regarding Purnia and give it to the Congress since the RJD announced that it would field former minister and Rupauli MLA Bima Bharati from the seat.

  • Bihar: Notification to free don-turned-politician creates a rift in Mahagathbandhan  

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar government’s move to release former MP Anand Mohan has led to a crack in the state’s ruling Grand Alliance (GA) or Mahagathbandhan. 

    The notification was issued on Monday to free Anand Mohan, who was serving a sentence in the then Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah murder case.

    While RJD, JD(U) and HAM, three major constituents of GA, supported the government’s decision, CPI-ML opposed it describing it as an act of discrimination.

    “Our men booked under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention)Act are still behind the bar. On the other hand, 27 prisoners convicted for serious crimes are being set free after tweaking Bihar Prison Manual 2012,” said Kunal, office secretary of CPI-ML.

    All CPI-ML MLAs will stage a dharna on April 28 as a mark of protest. CPI-ML is a part of the seven-party GA in Bihar. It has, however, not joined the government led by Nitish Kumar.

    On the other hand, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari hailed the government’s move and said that the former MP was being released as per the rule. “There is nothing wrong in it. I don’t know why there is a hue and cry over his release,” he said.

    Defending the government JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said, “Let it be clarified that the amendment has been done in Prison Manual. It is not to benefit any individual. Half of the prisoners, whose names figured in the list, were over 75 years of age and one of them is about 95 year-old.”

    Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the release of 27 convicted prisoners would create fear and psychosis among people. Toeing similar lines, former BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that those being released from jail were ‘booth grabbers’ of RJD.

    PATNA: Bihar government’s move to release former MP Anand Mohan has led to a crack in the state’s ruling Grand Alliance (GA) or Mahagathbandhan. 

    The notification was issued on Monday to free Anand Mohan, who was serving a sentence in the then Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah murder case.

    While RJD, JD(U) and HAM, three major constituents of GA, supported the government’s decision, CPI-ML opposed it describing it as an act of discrimination.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Our men booked under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention)Act are still behind the bar. On the other hand, 27 prisoners convicted for serious crimes are being set free after tweaking Bihar Prison Manual 2012,” said Kunal, office secretary of CPI-ML.

    All CPI-ML MLAs will stage a dharna on April 28 as a mark of protest. CPI-ML is a part of the seven-party GA in Bihar. It has, however, not joined the government led by Nitish Kumar.

    On the other hand, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari hailed the government’s move and said that the former MP was being released as per the rule. “There is nothing wrong in it. I don’t know why there is a hue and cry over his release,” he said.

    Defending the government JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said, “Let it be clarified that the amendment has been done in Prison Manual. It is not to benefit any individual. Half of the prisoners, whose names figured in the list, were over 75 years of age and one of them is about 95 year-old.”

    Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the release of 27 convicted prisoners would create fear and psychosis among people. Toeing similar lines, former BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that those being released from jail were ‘booth grabbers’ of RJD.

  • BJP spread rumours about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu: JD(U)

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

  • Bihar by-poll: Tough contest likely in Gopalganj

    By PTI

    PATNA: The Gopalganj assembly seat in Bihar is set to witness a tough fight in the November 3 by-poll with the BJP going all-out to retain the constituency and the ruling Mahagathbandhan’s largest constituent RJD leaving no stone unturned to wrest it from the saffron camp.

    BJP nominee Kusum Devi is up against RJD’s Mohan Gupta, whose nomination was supported by the seven-party grand alliance, formed after stripping the saffron camp of power in the state in August.

    Alleging that the BJP is trying to cash in on “sympathy of voters” by fielding Kusum Devi, the wife of Subhash Singh, whose death necessitated the by-election, the RJD leadership pointed out that the assembly constituency falls under its supremo Lalu Prasad’s home district, Gopalganj.

    “Our candidate will win the seat with a huge margin. The BJP has been completely exposed, and the security money deposited by its nominee will be forfeited,” Bihar RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary told PTI.

    Countering the RJD leader, the saffron camp’s state unit spokesperson, Nikhil Anand, said Gopalganj is a “BJP bastion” as the party has been winning the seat since 2005.

    “Subhash Singh was a popular leader of the constituency. People of Gopalganj will give a befitting reply to the grand alliance and ensure victory of our candidate to pay a tribute to their departed leader,” he said.

    Others in the race include Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Indira Yadav, wife of Anirudh Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav, who is brother in-law of Lalu Prasad, and AIMIM nominee Aslam Mukhiya.

    Campaigning for Gupta in Muslim-dominated areas in Gopalganj on Friday, state minister Mohammad Israil Mansuri said, “The RJD candidate will win by a comfortable margin. The BJP will face a humiliating defeat this time as the electorate from the minority community will vote for the RJD nominee. They also know that AIMIM is the ‘B’ team of the BJP.”

    Responding to the RJD’s claim, Anand said the Grand Alliance parties are “spreading propaganda to confuse voters”.

    In the last assembly elections, the then BJP candidate had won the seat by defeating Sadhu Yadav by 36,000 votes. Asif Gafoor of the Congress came third. Notably, by-elections will also be held in Mokama on November 3.

    PATNA: The Gopalganj assembly seat in Bihar is set to witness a tough fight in the November 3 by-poll with the BJP going all-out to retain the constituency and the ruling Mahagathbandhan’s largest constituent RJD leaving no stone unturned to wrest it from the saffron camp.

    BJP nominee Kusum Devi is up against RJD’s Mohan Gupta, whose nomination was supported by the seven-party grand alliance, formed after stripping the saffron camp of power in the state in August.

    Alleging that the BJP is trying to cash in on “sympathy of voters” by fielding Kusum Devi, the wife of Subhash Singh, whose death necessitated the by-election, the RJD leadership pointed out that the assembly constituency falls under its supremo Lalu Prasad’s home district, Gopalganj.

    “Our candidate will win the seat with a huge margin. The BJP has been completely exposed, and the security money deposited by its nominee will be forfeited,” Bihar RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary told PTI.

    Countering the RJD leader, the saffron camp’s state unit spokesperson, Nikhil Anand, said Gopalganj is a “BJP bastion” as the party has been winning the seat since 2005.

    “Subhash Singh was a popular leader of the constituency. People of Gopalganj will give a befitting reply to the grand alliance and ensure victory of our candidate to pay a tribute to their departed leader,” he said.

    Others in the race include Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Indira Yadav, wife of Anirudh Yadav alias Sadhu Yadav, who is brother in-law of Lalu Prasad, and AIMIM nominee Aslam Mukhiya.

    Campaigning for Gupta in Muslim-dominated areas in Gopalganj on Friday, state minister Mohammad Israil Mansuri said, “The RJD candidate will win by a comfortable margin. The BJP will face a humiliating defeat this time as the electorate from the minority community will vote for the RJD nominee. They also know that AIMIM is the ‘B’ team of the BJP.”

    Responding to the RJD’s claim, Anand said the Grand Alliance parties are “spreading propaganda to confuse voters”.

    In the last assembly elections, the then BJP candidate had won the seat by defeating Sadhu Yadav by 36,000 votes. Asif Gafoor of the Congress came third. Notably, by-elections will also be held in Mokama on November 3.

  • Allies of JD(U)-RJD government in Bihar seek bigger piece of power pie; to meet Nitish soon

    By PTI

    PATNA: Smaller constituents of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar are seeking top positions in commissions, boards and other entities under the state government to ensure ‘effective functioning’ of the Nitish Kumar-led dispensation.

    A team of representatives of all the allies will soon meet the chief minister to discuss the issue, CPI-ML (L) Legislature party leader Mehboob Alam told PTI.

    “I recently met Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and demanded that elected representatives or leaders of the alliance partners must be given space in various commissions, boards and corporations for the effective functioning of the government,” he said.

    There are several bodies under the Bihar government, such as commissions for human rights, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, women and public service, in which leaders of allies of the grand alliance can be offered responsible posts, said the CPIML(L) leader, whose party is part of the ruling coalition but supports the government from outside.

    “The proposal, if implemented, will ensure effective functioning of a government at all levels. We are not seeking these posts for benefits attached to members or chairpersons of such bodies. A delegation of leaders of all partners of the Mahagathbandhan will soon meet the CM in this regard,” Alam, the party’s central committee member, said.

    With 12 legislators, the CPI-ML (L) is the fourth largest constituent of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, formed after stripping the BJP of power in the state in August.

    Atul Kumar Anjan, a senior leader of the CPI, a minor ally of the grand alliance with just two MLAs, said that there must be a ‘participative feeling among all partners of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar’.

    “There are several important corporations and commissions. Some of these have quasi-judicial power. Leaders of alliance partners should be given a decisive role,” the Left leader told PTI.

    He also stated that since leaders of Left parties are “associated with several organisations and fighting for the cause of workers, tribals, farmers and landless people”, their accommodation in government bodies as members or chairpersons will “certainly improve the functioning of the administration”.

    “This is the need of the hour and politics with commitment is very much required,” he said.

    Another grand alliance ally Congress said that all stakeholders of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government must be involved in all levels of its functioning.

    Commenting on the issue, All India Congress Committee’s Bihar in-charge Bhakta Charan Das told PTI, “The proposal to bring in leaders of ruling allies in state bodies or agencies will be implemented soon. It has been delayed because of certain reasons. For a healthy political dialogue and to make the Mahagathbandhan government stronger, participation of alliance partners at all levels should be ensured.”

    After the RJD and Nitish Kumar’s JD (U), the Congress with 19 MLAs is the third largest ally of the seven-member ruling alliance.

    Lalu Prasad’s RJD with 78 MLAs is the largest constituent of it, while the JD(U) has 45 legislators.

    Two other partners of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ are former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM with four MLAs and the CPI(M), which just has two members in the 243-strong Bihar assembly.

    PATNA: Smaller constituents of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar are seeking top positions in commissions, boards and other entities under the state government to ensure ‘effective functioning’ of the Nitish Kumar-led dispensation.

    A team of representatives of all the allies will soon meet the chief minister to discuss the issue, CPI-ML (L) Legislature party leader Mehboob Alam told PTI.

    “I recently met Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and demanded that elected representatives or leaders of the alliance partners must be given space in various commissions, boards and corporations for the effective functioning of the government,” he said.

    There are several bodies under the Bihar government, such as commissions for human rights, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, women and public service, in which leaders of allies of the grand alliance can be offered responsible posts, said the CPIML(L) leader, whose party is part of the ruling coalition but supports the government from outside.

    “The proposal, if implemented, will ensure effective functioning of a government at all levels. We are not seeking these posts for benefits attached to members or chairpersons of such bodies. A delegation of leaders of all partners of the Mahagathbandhan will soon meet the CM in this regard,” Alam, the party’s central committee member, said.

    With 12 legislators, the CPI-ML (L) is the fourth largest constituent of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, formed after stripping the BJP of power in the state in August.

    Atul Kumar Anjan, a senior leader of the CPI, a minor ally of the grand alliance with just two MLAs, said that there must be a ‘participative feeling among all partners of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Bihar’.

    “There are several important corporations and commissions. Some of these have quasi-judicial power. Leaders of alliance partners should be given a decisive role,” the Left leader told PTI.

    He also stated that since leaders of Left parties are “associated with several organisations and fighting for the cause of workers, tribals, farmers and landless people”, their accommodation in government bodies as members or chairpersons will “certainly improve the functioning of the administration”.

    “This is the need of the hour and politics with commitment is very much required,” he said.

    Another grand alliance ally Congress said that all stakeholders of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government must be involved in all levels of its functioning.

    Commenting on the issue, All India Congress Committee’s Bihar in-charge Bhakta Charan Das told PTI, “The proposal to bring in leaders of ruling allies in state bodies or agencies will be implemented soon. It has been delayed because of certain reasons. For a healthy political dialogue and to make the Mahagathbandhan government stronger, participation of alliance partners at all levels should be ensured.”

    After the RJD and Nitish Kumar’s JD (U), the Congress with 19 MLAs is the third largest ally of the seven-member ruling alliance.

    Lalu Prasad’s RJD with 78 MLAs is the largest constituent of it, while the JD(U) has 45 legislators.

    Two other partners of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ are former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM with four MLAs and the CPI(M), which just has two members in the 243-strong Bihar assembly.

  • ‘After CBI, I am expecting ED’: Tejashwi on fresh charge sheet against parents

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were named in a fresh CBI charge sheet, on Saturday sought to link the development to the BJP’s loss of power in the state where it is now pitted against a formidable multi-party ‘Mahagathbandhan’.

    The RJD heir apparent, who had earlier mockingly asked central investigating agencies to open their offices at his residence, added tongue in cheek that after the CBI, he expected the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to swing into action.

    “The BJP, having lost power in Bihar, obviously has a problem with us. It also knows that it stands no chance against the Mahagathbandhan. So, in keeping with its strategy of misusing institutions, it has let loose the CBI,” Yadav told reporters in reply to queries about the fresh charge sheet against Prasad, the RJD president, and Rabri Devi who is a former chief minister.

    The CBI has filed the charge sheet against Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the railway minister.

    “I do not attach much importance to CBI action now. Though I would like to add that soon ED will be sent after us,” said the young leader, who has himself been named in the IRCTC land for hotels scam as an accused.

    He was also asked about the by-elections to Gopalganj and Mokama assembly seats, which have been necessitated by the demise of the sitting BJP MLA and disqualification of the incumbent RJD legislator, respectively.

    “We will hold discussions with allies and decide which party will field its candidates for the respective seats. I can, however, assure you that the Mahagathbandhan will win the by-polls hands down,” said Yadav, whose RJD is the largest constituent of the seven-party coalition that includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), the Congress and three Left parties.

    The RJD leader was also asked about speculations that the unceremonious exit from the state cabinet of Sudhakar Singh, who frequently embarrassed the government with his outspokenness, has left the latter’s father Jagadanand Singh, the party’s state unit chief, in a sulk.

    “I do not think Jagadanand Singh is upset. Had it been so he would have told me,” said Yadav, who will be spending the next few days in Delhi to attend the RJD’s national executive meeting on Monday, which will be followed, a day later, by the national council’s open session where Lalu Prasad will be formally declared as re-elected to the party president’s post for yet another term.

    However, when asked whether Jagadanand Singh will be present at the meeting, Yadav replied cryptically, “It is for him to decide whether he will attend the meeting.”

    PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, whose parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi were named in a fresh CBI charge sheet, on Saturday sought to link the development to the BJP’s loss of power in the state where it is now pitted against a formidable multi-party ‘Mahagathbandhan’.

    The RJD heir apparent, who had earlier mockingly asked central investigating agencies to open their offices at his residence, added tongue in cheek that after the CBI, he expected the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to swing into action.

    “The BJP, having lost power in Bihar, obviously has a problem with us. It also knows that it stands no chance against the Mahagathbandhan. So, in keeping with its strategy of misusing institutions, it has let loose the CBI,” Yadav told reporters in reply to queries about the fresh charge sheet against Prasad, the RJD president, and Rabri Devi who is a former chief minister.

    The CBI has filed the charge sheet against Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the railway minister.

    “I do not attach much importance to CBI action now. Though I would like to add that soon ED will be sent after us,” said the young leader, who has himself been named in the IRCTC land for hotels scam as an accused.

    He was also asked about the by-elections to Gopalganj and Mokama assembly seats, which have been necessitated by the demise of the sitting BJP MLA and disqualification of the incumbent RJD legislator, respectively.

    “We will hold discussions with allies and decide which party will field its candidates for the respective seats. I can, however, assure you that the Mahagathbandhan will win the by-polls hands down,” said Yadav, whose RJD is the largest constituent of the seven-party coalition that includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), the Congress and three Left parties.

    The RJD leader was also asked about speculations that the unceremonious exit from the state cabinet of Sudhakar Singh, who frequently embarrassed the government with his outspokenness, has left the latter’s father Jagadanand Singh, the party’s state unit chief, in a sulk.

    “I do not think Jagadanand Singh is upset. Had it been so he would have told me,” said Yadav, who will be spending the next few days in Delhi to attend the RJD’s national executive meeting on Monday, which will be followed, a day later, by the national council’s open session where Lalu Prasad will be formally declared as re-elected to the party president’s post for yet another term.

    However, when asked whether Jagadanand Singh will be present at the meeting, Yadav replied cryptically, “It is for him to decide whether he will attend the meeting.”

  • In Opposition ruled states, BJP sends its Sons-in-law, CBI, ED, IT for raids: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

    By PTI

    PATNA: Stung by raids on a number of RJD leaders, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday called the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax (IT) department “three jamaai” (sons-in-law), which the BJP sent to states where it was not in power.

    Taking part in a debate on the motion of confidence moved by the new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government, Yadav accused the BJP of having tried to “break” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party in a bid to “wipe out socialist ideology”.

    “My father Lalu Prasad, mother Rabri Devi, my sisters and I are all paying the price for our commitment to socialism. The CM and I have the same ideology. You (BJP) cannot reap what we socialists have sown,” said Yadav.

    The RJD heir apparent also expressed dismay over a section of the media saying that a mall being raided by CBI in Gurugram belonged to him.

    “These media outlets should do some research. It belongs to someone based in Haryana, and was inaugurated by a BJP MP,” said Yadav.

    “People sitting in Delhi do not understand the spirit of Bihar. Intimidation does not work here. Sending three ‘jamaai’ is not going to scare us. The BJP is looking like a wedding procession without the groom,” remarked the young leader in an apparent dig at the saffron party’s inability to decide on who would now be the leader of the opposition.

    Yadav also said that Nitish Kumar has taken a “courageous decision” and that brought a “new ray of hope” for the people of the country.

    BJP leaders should also remember that the CM was called a socialist by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked.

    “You are all scared of facing 2024 polls as the united opposition in Bihar will trounce the BJP. Hence the three ‘jamaai’ are being sent,” he added.

    BJP leaders rose in protest against the repeated use of the word “jamaai”.

    They were told by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari that he will look into the rulebook and if the term was unparliamentary, it would be expunged.

    PATNA: Stung by raids on a number of RJD leaders, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday called the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax (IT) department “three jamaai” (sons-in-law), which the BJP sent to states where it was not in power.

    Taking part in a debate on the motion of confidence moved by the new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government, Yadav accused the BJP of having tried to “break” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party in a bid to “wipe out socialist ideology”.

    “My father Lalu Prasad, mother Rabri Devi, my sisters and I are all paying the price for our commitment to socialism. The CM and I have the same ideology. You (BJP) cannot reap what we socialists have sown,” said Yadav.

    The RJD heir apparent also expressed dismay over a section of the media saying that a mall being raided by CBI in Gurugram belonged to him.

    “These media outlets should do some research. It belongs to someone based in Haryana, and was inaugurated by a BJP MP,” said Yadav.

    “People sitting in Delhi do not understand the spirit of Bihar. Intimidation does not work here. Sending three ‘jamaai’ is not going to scare us. The BJP is looking like a wedding procession without the groom,” remarked the young leader in an apparent dig at the saffron party’s inability to decide on who would now be the leader of the opposition.

    Yadav also said that Nitish Kumar has taken a “courageous decision” and that brought a “new ray of hope” for the people of the country.

    BJP leaders should also remember that the CM was called a socialist by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked.

    “You are all scared of facing 2024 polls as the united opposition in Bihar will trounce the BJP. Hence the three ‘jamaai’ are being sent,” he added.

    BJP leaders rose in protest against the repeated use of the word “jamaai”.

    They were told by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari that he will look into the rulebook and if the term was unparliamentary, it would be expunged.

  • Bihar assembly Speaker sticks to post as he faces no-confidence motion

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: All eyes are set on Bihar assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha against whom ruling RJD members have moved ‘no trust motion’, likely to be taken up in case he does not resign by August 24 when the RJD-led grand alliance or Mahagathbandhan government goes for a floor test.

    According to the rule, a Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority. While the seven constituents of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan have a total of 164 members in the Assembly, the BJP has 77 MLAs.

    The outgoing state legislative council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh has also not resigned from his post so far. Meanwhile, RJD and JD (U) have reached a consensus on the names of the Bihar assemblyspeaker and state legislative council chairman.

    While veteran RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary is likely to be assembly speaker, Devesh Chandra Thakur most probably will be the next state legislative council chairman.

    Choudhary as RJD candidate had defeated his BJP rival and former party MP Om Prakash Yadav from Siwan in the last assembly election. A five-time RJD MLA from Siwan, Choudhary had also contested for the post of assembly speaker after the last assembly election but he was defeated by the BJPcandidate Sinha.

    Election for the post of speaker was also surrounded by a controversy when former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had shared a one-and-a-half-minute-long clip on his official Twitter handle. In the audio-tape, the RJD chief is purportedly trying to persuade a BJP legislator to abstainfrom the vote.

    JD (U) is the single largest party in the Bihar legislative council and Devesh Chandra Thakur is nominated as a candidate for the Bihar legislative council chairman, he is tipped to become the next chairman of the upper house.

    Thakur had won the MLC election as an Independent candidate from Tirhut graduate constituency in 2002. In 2004, he joined JD (U). Later, he again emerged victorious in the MLC election from Tirhut graduate constituency in 2008.

    Same year, Thakur was made state disaster management minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. In 2014, he again entered into the upper house as an Independent member while he had won MLC election from Tirhut graduate constituency for one more time in 2020. So, it is his fourth term in the state legislative council.

    PATNA: All eyes are set on Bihar assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha against whom ruling RJD members have moved ‘no trust motion’, likely to be taken up in case he does not resign by August 24 when the RJD-led grand alliance or Mahagathbandhan government goes for a floor test.

    According to the rule, a Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution of the Assembly passed by a majority. While the seven constituents of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan have a total of 164 members in the Assembly, the BJP has 77 MLAs.

    The outgoing state legislative council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh has also not resigned from his post so far. Meanwhile, RJD and JD (U) have reached a consensus on the names of the Bihar assembly
    speaker and state legislative council chairman.

    While veteran RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary is likely to be assembly speaker, Devesh Chandra Thakur most probably will be the next state legislative council chairman.

    Choudhary as RJD candidate had defeated his BJP rival and former party MP Om Prakash Yadav from Siwan in the last assembly election. A five-time RJD MLA from Siwan, Choudhary had also contested for the post of assembly speaker after the last assembly election but he was defeated by the BJP
    candidate Sinha.

    Election for the post of speaker was also surrounded by a controversy when former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had shared a one-and-a-half-minute-long clip on his official Twitter handle. In the audio-tape, the RJD chief is purportedly trying to persuade a BJP legislator to abstain
    from the vote.

    JD (U) is the single largest party in the Bihar legislative council and Devesh Chandra Thakur is nominated as a candidate for the Bihar legislative council chairman, he is tipped to become the next chairman of the upper house.

    Thakur had won the MLC election as an Independent candidate from Tirhut graduate constituency in 2002. In 2004, he joined JD (U). Later, he again emerged victorious in the MLC election from Tirhut graduate constituency in 2008.

    Same year, Thakur was made state disaster management minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. In 2014, he again entered into the upper house as an Independent member while he had won MLC election from Tirhut graduate constituency for one more time in 2020. So, it is his fourth term in the state legislative council.

  • ‘Modi ko hatana hai’: Lalu’s first comments after NDA fallout in Bihar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Wednesday slammed the BJP government at the Centre as “dictatorial” and vowed to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power in the 2024 general elections.

    He made the remarks when asked about the way forward for the 2024 polls.

    The comments are his first since the ‘Mahagathbandhan 2.0’ government came to power in Bihar after the JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties.

    “We have to oust the dictatorial government (at the Centre). Modi ko hatana hai,” he told reporters here.

    Asked about BJP leader Sushil Modi’s allegations targeting the new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance after the formation of the government, Lalu Prasad said, “Jhoontha aadmi hai (He is a liar). It’s all wrong.”

    Later in the day, Lalu Prasad’s daughter tweeted a picture of her along with Lalu Prasad in a plane and wrote, “Departing for Patna.”

    Lalu Prasad had been admitted in AIIMS here in early July after suffering multiple fractures due to a fall and was later discharged.

    He recuperated at the home of his daughter Misa Bharti here.

    Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister along with Tejashwi Yadav, who has been designated deputy CM, last Wednesday, a day after the JD(U) snapped ties with the BJP-led NDA and joined hands with the RJD, the Congress and some other parties to form the Mahagathbandhan’ government.

    NEW DELHI: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Wednesday slammed the BJP government at the Centre as “dictatorial” and vowed to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power in the 2024 general elections.

    He made the remarks when asked about the way forward for the 2024 polls.

    The comments are his first since the ‘Mahagathbandhan 2.0’ government came to power in Bihar after the JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties.

    “We have to oust the dictatorial government (at the Centre). Modi ko hatana hai,” he told reporters here.

    Asked about BJP leader Sushil Modi’s allegations targeting the new ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance after the formation of the government, Lalu Prasad said, “Jhoontha aadmi hai (He is a liar). It’s all wrong.”

    Later in the day, Lalu Prasad’s daughter tweeted a picture of her along with Lalu Prasad in a plane and wrote, “Departing for Patna.”

    Lalu Prasad had been admitted in AIIMS here in early July after suffering multiple fractures due to a fall and was later discharged.

    He recuperated at the home of his daughter Misa Bharti here.

    Nitish Kumar took oath as chief minister along with Tejashwi Yadav, who has been designated deputy CM, last Wednesday, a day after the JD(U) snapped ties with the BJP-led NDA and joined hands with the RJD, the Congress and some other parties to form the Mahagathbandhan’ government.