News Analysis India

Tag: Nitish Kumar

  • I.N.D.I.A Meeting On Nitish Kumar’s Role Postponed, Decision On Convenor On Hold Too |

    New Delhi: The fate of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the coordinator of the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc remains unclear as the scheduled meeting of the alliance leaders has been postponed. The meeting, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday (January 3rd), was expected to finalise the role of Nitish Kumar in the coalition ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. However, the meeting has now been rescheduled for a later date, with no confirmation on the timing. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, said that the meeting was deferred due to some unavoidable reasons.

    Meanwhile, the BJP has mocked the delay in the meeting and accused the opposition parties of avoiding Nitish Kumar. BJP leader Sanjay Mayukh said that the I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders are showing Nitish Kumar a mirage and that nobody wants him as the leader of the coalition. He also claimed that Nitish Kumar’s popularity in Bihar has come to an end and that he has no future in the state politics.

    Tejashwi Supports Nitish Kumar As Convenor

    On the other hand, Tejashwi Yadav has expressed his support for Nitish Kumar as the convenor of the I.N.D.I.A bloc. He said that Nitish Kumar is a senior and experienced leader and that it would be great for Bihar if he becomes the coordinator of the opposition alliance. He also said that the issue of seat-sharing among the coalition partners will be sorted out without any problem.

    The I.N.D.I.A bloc, which comprises of the Congress, the RJD, the JD(U), the SP, the BSP, the TMC, the DMK, the NCP, the CPI, the CPI(M) and other regional parties, is aiming to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming general elections. The bloc last met on December 19, 2023, and decided to finalise seat-sharing as soon as possible.

    However, the bloc has not yet declared its prime ministerial candidate, with some leaders suggesting the name of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, while others saying that the issue will be decided democratically after the polls.

  • BREAKING: Lalan Singh Steps Down As Janata Dal-United President, Sends Resignation To Nitish Kumar, Say Sources |

    NEW DELHI: In a major political development, Lalan Singh, the president of Bihar’s ruling party, Janata Dal-United (JDU), has tendered his resignation from his position, sources said on Tuesday.  As per sources, Lalan Singh, a key figure in JDU’s leadership, has forwarded his resignation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This decision comes amid speculations and political discussions about the party’s future course of action.

    Resignation Not Accepted Yet

    As of now, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has not accepted Lalan Singh’s resignation. The political circles are abuzz with discussions about the possible reasons behind this unexpected move. The development is set to be officially addressed on December 29th during a crucial meeting in Delhi.

    Speculations Surrounding The Resignation

    While the exact motives behind Lalan Singh’s resignation remain unclear, political observers are actively speculating about its potential implications on the party’s internal dynamics. This unexpected move has added an element of uncertainty to the political landscape in Bihar, leaving many to ponder the possible ramifications.

    December 29th Meeting To Seal Fate

    All eyes are now on the crucial JDU meeting scheduled for December 29th in Delhi, where the fate of Lalan Singh’s resignation is expected to be determined. The party leadership is likely to provide insights into the reasons behind this development and outline the future course of action for the Janata Dal (United).

    This sudden turn of events within the JDU has not only triggered discussions within the party but also caught the attention of political analysts, making it a significant development in the current political scenario. It was earlier speculated that Nitish Kumar would soon remove Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh as the Janata Dal (United) chief.

    While there is no official confirmation in this regard as yet, sources also said that Nitish Kumar may himself take over as the party chief. Nitish is also believed to have been advised by his close confidantes that he should take over as the party president as it will help avoid any rumbling within the party, which may otherwise be triggered if a new face replaces Lalan Singh.

    According to sources, Nitish Kumar is upset with Lalan Singh over the way he has been functioning and especially his growing proximity with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav. Reports said Lalan Singh was keen on contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections again from Munger and he might contest on an RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) ticket.

    Reports said Nitish was also upset with Lalan Singh for his failure to co-ordinate well with INDIA bloc partners to fulfill his national ambitions.

    If officially removed as the party chief, Lallan Singh will join the league of other party senior leaders, like George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav, RCP Singh, Upendra Kushwaha and poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who were previously replaced, despite being extremely close to Nitish Kumar.

  • Nitish Kumar says ‘not upset’ with INDIA bloc’s proposal on Kharge’s name |

    In a move to end scepticism over a possible rift within the INDIA bloc, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he did not convey any willingness to get a post in the bloc, emphasising that he is not ‘upset’. 

    The chief minister added that he will be on board with whatever decision the bloc takes.

    The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of the Opposition met in New Delhi last week for its fourth meeting. The meeting came after Congress suffered a major setback in three states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. 

    During the meeting, key opposition leaders recommended Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s name for the prime ministerial post. 

    In August, Nitish Kumar had reiterated that he did not want the post of national convener of the INDIA bloc, adding that his move to drive the Opposition into unity was not motivated by “personal ambition.”

    Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi dialled up Kumar after reports surfaced that he is unhappy with the bloc and how it is advancing. The INDIA bloc meeting concluded with the decision that a call on seat sharing ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2024 would be taken soon. 

    Currently, the INDIA bloc has set a deadline of December 31 for seat sharing. The Opposition bloc has also decided to launch nationwide public meetings soon. A special focus will also be put on Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. 

    On the other hand, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a goal of securing 50 per cent vote share in the next Lok Sabha elections. The party has also announced the beginning of cluster meetings from January 15 while the Yuva Morcha will hold around 5,000 conferences across the country.

    The cluster meetings will be attended and addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP President JP Nadda.

    Meanwhile, the BJP Yuva Morcha will begin a new campaign for new voters across the nation from January 24. 

     

  • ‘This child is everything to us’: Bihar CM Nitish on Tejashwi

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as ‘his child’ and is ‘everything to us’.

    Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitishwhile putting his hand on Tejashwi’s shoulders said, “He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state.” He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh.

    While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.

    He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues.

    Nitish’s display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election

    Nitish’s announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD).

    State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, “There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate.”

    Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday created a flutter in political circles by describing his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as ‘his child’ and is ‘everything to us’.

    Giving a clear indication that he was ready to hand over his CM post to Tejashwi at any time, Nitish
    while putting his hand on Tejashwi’s shoulders said, “He is my child, he is everything to us. We are doing good work together for the state.” He had reached the Chief Secretariat on Saturday morning to offer floral tributes to the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Singh.

    While answering questions from journalists on his statement of friendship with the BJP, he said that his statement was misinterpreted. He had made the statement at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He added that he never spoke about the party (BJP). He clarified that he was referring to the work done in the interest of Bihar through his initiatives but the media did not cover it and instead focused on trivial issues.

    Nitish’s display of affection for Tejashwi is not new. Last year, after breaking ties with the BJP in August and forming the government with the great alliance, Nitish declared Tejasvi as his successor. He has already announced that Tejashwi will lead the grand alliance in the 2025 Bihar assembly election

    Nitish’s announcement has prompted senior JD (U) leader and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha to quit the party and float his own Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD).

    State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh said, “There is no issue with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav holding the CM post. The grand alliance had contested the 2015 state assembly election by projecting him as the CM candidate.”

    Meanwhile, former Union Minister and BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I will answer and give an effective answer, but now who is whose child and who is whose father? It works in the state of Bihar and let it work. But I would like to say that father (Lalu) expects his son (Tejashwi) to become the Chief Minister soon, now it remains to be seen when his uncle (Nitish) leaves the chair.” Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Nitish wants to scare and confuse Congress, RJD: Sushil Modi 

    By PTI

    PATNA: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wanted to “scare and confuse” current allies RJD and Congress by speaking about personal equations with those in the saffron party.

    Modi, who had served as Kumar’s deputy for more than a decade and is known for having had an excellent rapport with the JD(U) leader, however, said that the latter had become a spent force with whom the BJP would no longer like to have a truck.

    “We would like to align with forces which can benefit us and can be benefited by us. Nitish Kumar is left with virtually no support base, a reason why his party was drubbed in the 2020 assembly polls. A realignment with him is out of the question for the BJP. It has also been stated repeatedly by our national leadership,” Modi told reporters.

    He was replying to queries from journalists about speculations that Kumar, at a function on Thursday, had tried to send signals to the BJP while speaking of “personal friendship” with Radha Mohan Singh, a veteran saffron party leader who had served in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first cabinet.

    Kumar had made the remark at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, East Champaran.

    Hours later, at the convocation ceremony of AIIMS, Patna he had voiced displeasure over a section of the media coming out with “slanted” reports of his utterances.

    Sushil Kumar Modi, who has known Kumar since the 1970s when both were student leaders, cutting their teeth in the Bihar movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan, was of the view that the JD(U) leader was trying to “scare” and “confuse” the Congress and the RJD.

    “Nitish Kumar may be thinking that by doing so he will be able to give an impression that he has aces up his sleeve, which would keep his current allies in check. Be that as it may, he has burnt his bridges with the BJP. His party has also grown weak ever since he parted ways with us. JD(U)’s former national president RCP Singh is now in BJP while Upendra Kushwaha, who headed the parliamentary board, is an NDA partner,” the Rajya Sabha member pointed out.

    He also said the BJP-led NDA had “bundled out the JD(U) for two seats out of 40 in Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which was the last time when Nitish fought separately from us”.

    “In 2024, his tally will be reduced to zero. The BJP has only grown stronger in the recent past, as is evident from our improved performance in by-elections to three seats held in the last one year,” Sushil Modi said.

    Meanwhile, JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan alleged that a section of the media was “driven by the agenda to portray that there is turmoil in our party”.

    Lalan asserted, “Sometimes they say Nitish Kumar is getting close to the BJP. Sometimes they even say all is not well between him, the party’s supreme leader, and me. There is no question of Nitish Kumar, the driving force behind opposition unity, of joining hands with the BJP again.”

    “The BJP is a party of backstabbers as was evident in the assembly polls of 2020 and its attempt to hatch a conspiracy against the JD(U) with the help of a very member of our party,” he alleged.

    The allusion was to the then LJP president Chirag Paswan fielding candidates, many of them BJP rebels, in all seats contested by the JD(U) in 2020 and alleged attempts to “break” the party with the help of RCP Singh who had been inducted into the Union cabinet without Kumar’s approval.

    “Nitish Kumar believes in respecting personal relations but it must also be remembered that he has committed to dethroning Narendra Modi next year. He is pursuing the goal single-mindedly,” Lalan added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    PATNA: Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wanted to “scare and confuse” current allies RJD and Congress by speaking about personal equations with those in the saffron party.

    Modi, who had served as Kumar’s deputy for more than a decade and is known for having had an excellent rapport with the JD(U) leader, however, said that the latter had become a spent force with whom the BJP would no longer like to have a truck.

    “We would like to align with forces which can benefit us and can be benefited by us. Nitish Kumar is left with virtually no support base, a reason why his party was drubbed in the 2020 assembly polls. A realignment with him is out of the question for the BJP. It has also been stated repeatedly by our national leadership,” Modi told reporters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He was replying to queries from journalists about speculations that Kumar, at a function on Thursday, had tried to send signals to the BJP while speaking of “personal friendship” with Radha Mohan Singh, a veteran saffron party leader who had served in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first cabinet.

    Kumar had made the remark at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari, East Champaran.

    Hours later, at the convocation ceremony of AIIMS, Patna he had voiced displeasure over a section of the media coming out with “slanted” reports of his utterances.

    Sushil Kumar Modi, who has known Kumar since the 1970s when both were student leaders, cutting their teeth in the Bihar movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan, was of the view that the JD(U) leader was trying to “scare” and “confuse” the Congress and the RJD.

    “Nitish Kumar may be thinking that by doing so he will be able to give an impression that he has aces up his sleeve, which would keep his current allies in check. Be that as it may, he has burnt his bridges with the BJP. His party has also grown weak ever since he parted ways with us. JD(U)’s former national president RCP Singh is now in BJP while Upendra Kushwaha, who headed the parliamentary board, is an NDA partner,” the Rajya Sabha member pointed out.

    He also said the BJP-led NDA had “bundled out the JD(U) for two seats out of 40 in Bihar in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which was the last time when Nitish fought separately from us”.

    “In 2024, his tally will be reduced to zero. The BJP has only grown stronger in the recent past, as is evident from our improved performance in by-elections to three seats held in the last one year,” Sushil Modi said.

    Meanwhile, JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan alleged that a section of the media was “driven by the agenda to portray that there is turmoil in our party”.

    Lalan asserted, “Sometimes they say Nitish Kumar is getting close to the BJP. Sometimes they even say all is not well between him, the party’s supreme leader, and me. There is no question of Nitish Kumar, the driving force behind opposition unity, of joining hands with the BJP again.”

    “The BJP is a party of backstabbers as was evident in the assembly polls of 2020 and its attempt to hatch a conspiracy against the JD(U) with the help of a very member of our party,” he alleged.

    The allusion was to the then LJP president Chirag Paswan fielding candidates, many of them BJP rebels, in all seats contested by the JD(U) in 2020 and alleged attempts to “break” the party with the help of RCP Singh who had been inducted into the Union cabinet without Kumar’s approval.

    “Nitish Kumar believes in respecting personal relations but it must also be remembered that he has committed to dethroning Narendra Modi next year. He is pursuing the goal single-mindedly,” Lalan added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Patna high court gives clearance to a caste-based survey in Bihar

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: The Patna high court on Tuesday dismissed all five PIL pleas challenging the decision of the Bihar government to conduct a caste-based survey in the state. The order came as a major relief for the state government as it is likely to resume the caste census. 

    After hearing a total of five PIL pleas challenging various aspects of the survey, a bench of chief justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy pronounced in open court that all pleas have been dismissed.

    On July 7, the court had reserved its order and fixed August 1 to pronounce its order after hearing the pleas of the petitioners.

    The Bihar government, on the other hand, had submitted before the court that 80% of the survey was complete. The first phase, which began on January 7, was a household counting exercise and it was completed by January 21.

    The second phase started on April 15, wherein the information on people’s caste and their social-economic condition was collected. The entire exercise was scheduled to end by May 2023.

    However, hearing the PIL pleas against the Bihar government’s ambitious decision, the Patna high court, on May 4, put an interim stay on it while observing that it prima facie amounts to a census that the state government has no power to carry out.

    Advocate Dinu Kumar, appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, said that they would move the Supreme Court against the order of the high court. He said the decision to move the apex court would be taken after going through the order of the high court.

    PATNA: The Patna high court on Tuesday dismissed all five PIL pleas challenging the decision of the Bihar government to conduct a caste-based survey in the state. The order came as a major relief for the state government as it is likely to resume the caste census. 

    After hearing a total of five PIL pleas challenging various aspects of the survey, a bench of chief justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice Partha Sarthy pronounced in open court that all pleas have been dismissed.

    On July 7, the court had reserved its order and fixed August 1 to pronounce its order after hearing the pleas of the petitioners.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Bihar government, on the other hand, had submitted before the court that 80% of the survey was complete. The first phase, which began on January 7, was a household counting exercise and it was completed by January 21.

    The second phase started on April 15, wherein the information on people’s caste and their social-economic condition was collected. The entire exercise was scheduled to end by May 2023.

    However, hearing the PIL pleas against the Bihar government’s ambitious decision, the Patna high court, on May 4, put an interim stay on it while observing that it prima facie amounts to a census that the state government has no power to carry out.

    Advocate Dinu Kumar, appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, said that they would move the Supreme Court against the order of the high court. He said the decision to move the apex court would be taken after going through the order of the high court.

  • Nitish can return to NDA anytime: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar could return to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) anytime, said Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for social justice and empowerment. 

    Athawale, who was here to launch central welfare schemes, also urged Nitish not to attend the third round of meeting of Opposition leaders scheduled to be held in August in Maharashtra.

    The date of the meeting has not been announced so far.

    “Nitish hamare hain, hamare pass kabhi bhi aa sakte hain (Nitish is one among us and can return anytime),” Athawale, who is chief of the Republican Party of India (RPI) said.

    He said that Nitish’s absence was always felt within the NDA. Referring to the long association with Janata Dal (United) supremo, the union minister said that the latter is a good friend.

    “He has been part of the NDA for a long time. Why had he joined NDA when he had the intention of returning to the Opposition camp?” he asked.

    Athawale’s statement ahead of the third round of Opposition meeting assumed significance as Nitish was not happy with the happenings at the second meeting held in Bengaluru on July 17-18. Nitish, however, later clarified the question of being unhappy didn’t arise when his suggestions were honoured.

    The union minister said that Bihar would continue to get its share from the centre so far as development is concerned. Athawale lauded the works undertaken during the tenure of Nitish Kumar when he was part of the NDA.

    “Kafi acchha kaam hua hai. Hum ek din pahle Munger gaye the. Road kafi acchha ho gaya hai (Good works have been done. I had gone to Munger a day earlier. Roads are in good condition),” the union minister said.

    He also rubbished the allegation that non-BJP-ruled states were getting stepmotherly treatment from the centre. “This is wrong and baseless. Bihar is a non-BJP-ruled state now. But the Centre is providing all assistance to the present dispensation. Biharis are our own people,” he added.

    On being asked about JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s allegation that Bihar was not getting its due share from centre, Athawale said that he (Choudhary) is saying so because of political reasons.

    “JD(U) is not a part of NDA now. That’s why its leaders are making allegations against the central government. Why didn’t they say so when they were part of the ruling NDA in Bihar?” he asked.

    PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar could return to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) anytime, said Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for social justice and empowerment. 

    Athawale, who was here to launch central welfare schemes, also urged Nitish not to attend the third round of meeting of Opposition leaders scheduled to be held in August in Maharashtra.

    The date of the meeting has not been announced so far.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Nitish hamare hain, hamare pass kabhi bhi aa sakte hain (Nitish is one among us and can return anytime),” Athawale, who is chief of the Republican Party of India (RPI) said.

    He said that Nitish’s absence was always felt within the NDA. Referring to the long association with Janata Dal (United) supremo, the union minister said that the latter is a good friend.

    “He has been part of the NDA for a long time. Why had he joined NDA when he had the intention of returning to the Opposition camp?” he asked.

    Athawale’s statement ahead of the third round of Opposition meeting assumed significance as Nitish was not happy with the happenings at the second meeting held in Bengaluru on July 17-18. Nitish, however, later clarified the question of being unhappy didn’t arise when his suggestions were honoured.

    The union minister said that Bihar would continue to get its share from the centre so far as development is concerned. Athawale lauded the works undertaken during the tenure of Nitish Kumar when he was part of the NDA.

    “Kafi acchha kaam hua hai. Hum ek din pahle Munger gaye the. Road kafi acchha ho gaya hai (Good works have been done. I had gone to Munger a day earlier. Roads are in good condition),” the union minister said.

    He also rubbished the allegation that non-BJP-ruled states were getting stepmotherly treatment from the centre. “This is wrong and baseless. Bihar is a non-BJP-ruled state now. But the Centre is providing all assistance to the present dispensation. Biharis are our own people,” he added.

    On being asked about JD(U) minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s allegation that Bihar was not getting its due share from centre, Athawale said that he (Choudhary) is saying so because of political reasons.

    “JD(U) is not a part of NDA now. That’s why its leaders are making allegations against the central government. Why didn’t they say so when they were part of the ruling NDA in Bihar?” he asked.

  • ‘Don’t do this, you are close to Lalu Ji’, Nitish tells RJD MLC at legislature party meet

    Express News Service

    PATNA: It seems that all is not well within the grand alliance in Bihar ahead of the Opposition party’s two-day meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

    Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and an RJD MLC indulged in a verbal duel during a legislature party meeting of the grand alliance held in the wake of five-day Monsoon session of Bihar assembly, which began on Monday.

    The trouble started when Nitish asked RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh to refrain from issuing statements against the grand alliance in the media and also to keep himself away from Opposition BJP as he has a soft corner for the saffron party.

    “Don’t do such things. You are close to Lalu Ji. You shared your pictures with union home minister Amit Shah on social media platforms. You are also willing to contest the election from Saran,” Nitish reportedly told Sunil at the meeting. Nitish didn’t stop there. He reportedly told RJD MLC that he was working on BJP’s agenda.

    “You should follow principles of alliance and do not do such things in the larger interest of the alliance,” a lawmaker quoted Nitish as saying.

    “Who is doing what and who is in whose contact, I know it very well. So I am asking you people, to refrain from doing such things in the larger interest of the grand alliance,” Nitish told the lawmakers at the meeting. This led to a verbal duel between Nitish and Sunil, who is also chairman of Biscouman.

    Sunil retorted, “Nobody can question my integrity. I have been with Lalu ji for the last 27 years after seeing many ups and downs.” 

    He said that he was with RJD and would continue to serve the party till he breathed his last. He told Nitish that he had met union home minister Amit Shah at Cooperative conclave in New Delhi on July 1.

    “As I am chairman of Biscomaun (Bihar state cooperative marketing union ltd) and director of cooperative societies, it is quite obvious to meet the union Cooperative minister at the function, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later I shared the pictures on social media,” he said.

    As the situation turned volatile, deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav intervened and asked his party’s legislator to keep quiet. “I am keeping quiet because of Lalu ji. He has asked me not to speak anymore,” Sunil reportedly said.

    The spat didn’t go well with GA ally Congress. Congress MLA Ajit Sharma said that the chief minister has no right to reprimand any MLA/MLC belonging to other parties. “It’s true that we all are part of a grand alliance. But it doesn’t mean that the chief minister can reprimand anyone as per his wishes,” he said.

    Earlier, a war of words broke out between Sunil Singh and Ashok Choudhary over the issue of posting of an IAS officer K K Pathak in the education department as additional chief secretary recently. Choudhary is considered to be close to Nitish.

    The trouble started when RJD MLC Sunil Singh remarked that chief minister Nitish Kumar deliberately posted senior IAS officer KK Pathak in the education department so that the education minister Prof Chandrashekhar could be reined in through the officer.

    Incidentally, Prof Chandrashekhar who belongs to RJD has a stand-off with Pathak recently as the minister had written yellow letters to Pathak and director-level officers of the department to express his displeasure over the style of their functioning.

    In the letter, the minister, while raising objections to their style of functioning, also asked them not to leak department-related information to the media. “To tame his ministers, Nitish attaches officers like Pathak with them,” RJD MLC Singh said while attacking JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar.

    Singh, who is considered close to Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi, also attacked senior JD (U) minister Ashok Choudhary for claiming that he was raising the issue of the minister-officer face-off due to his personal agenda.

    He said that Choudhary would have been in jail had RJD chief Lalu Prasad not helped him. Choudhary’s name had figured in the murder of senior Congress leader Rajo Singh.

    RJD leader alleged that Choudhary had the habit of changing parties and he would betray Nitish too. He also claimed that Choudhary had once used objectionable language against former chief minister Rabri Devi.

    Choudhary had also recalled ‘Jungle Raj’ days, an oblique reference to the Lalu-Rabri regime, and also alleged that Singh was speaking ‘language of BJP’. Choudhary sharpening his attack on RJD MLC Singh said that he was not the ultimate voice in the RJD as Lalu and former chief minister Rabri Devi had final say in the policy-related major issues.

    Opposition BJP took a jibe at the ongoing spat between RJD and JD(U). Former Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that the ongoing verbal duel between two allies has an adverse impact on development works. 

    “The ongoing tussle between RJD and JD(U) has stalled development works while chief minister Nitish Kumar is a mute spectator,” alleged Sushil Modi. 

    He said the bureaucrats are so arrogant during GA regime that they don’t bother to listen to their political bosses (read respective ministers) and the spat between Prof Chandrashekhar and KK Pathak is no exception. “Yet leaders of both ruling partners claim that all is well in GA,” remarked Modi.

    PATNA: It seems that all is not well within the grand alliance in Bihar ahead of the Opposition party’s two-day meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy against BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

    Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and an RJD MLC indulged in a verbal duel during a legislature party meeting of the grand alliance held in the wake of five-day Monsoon session of Bihar assembly, which began on Monday.

    The trouble started when Nitish asked RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh to refrain from issuing statements against the grand alliance in the media and also to keep himself away from Opposition BJP as he has a soft corner for the saffron party.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Don’t do such things. You are close to Lalu Ji. You shared your pictures with union home minister Amit Shah on social media platforms. You are also willing to contest the election from Saran,” Nitish reportedly told Sunil at the meeting. Nitish didn’t stop there. He reportedly told RJD MLC that he was working on BJP’s agenda.

    “You should follow principles of alliance and do not do such things in the larger interest of the alliance,” a lawmaker quoted Nitish as saying.

    “Who is doing what and who is in whose contact, I know it very well. So I am asking you people, to refrain from doing such things in the larger interest of the grand alliance,” Nitish told the lawmakers at the meeting. This led to a verbal duel between Nitish and Sunil, who is also chairman of Biscouman.

    Sunil retorted, “Nobody can question my integrity. I have been with Lalu ji for the last 27 years after seeing many ups and downs.” 

    He said that he was with RJD and would continue to serve the party till he breathed his last. He told Nitish that he had met union home minister Amit Shah at Cooperative conclave in New Delhi on July 1.

    “As I am chairman of Biscomaun (Bihar state cooperative marketing union ltd) and director of cooperative societies, it is quite obvious to meet the union Cooperative minister at the function, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later I shared the pictures on social media,” he said.

    As the situation turned volatile, deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav intervened and asked his party’s legislator to keep quiet. “I am keeping quiet because of Lalu ji. He has asked me not to speak anymore,” Sunil reportedly said.

    The spat didn’t go well with GA ally Congress. Congress MLA Ajit Sharma said that the chief minister has no right to reprimand any MLA/MLC belonging to other parties. “It’s true that we all are part of a grand alliance. But it doesn’t mean that the chief minister can reprimand anyone as per his wishes,” he said.

    Earlier, a war of words broke out between Sunil Singh and Ashok Choudhary over the issue of posting of an IAS officer K K Pathak in the education department as additional chief secretary recently. Choudhary is considered to be close to Nitish.

    The trouble started when RJD MLC Sunil Singh remarked that chief minister Nitish Kumar deliberately posted senior IAS officer KK Pathak in the education department so that the education minister Prof Chandrashekhar could be reined in through the officer.

    Incidentally, Prof Chandrashekhar who belongs to RJD has a stand-off with Pathak recently as the minister had written yellow letters to Pathak and director-level officers of the department to express his displeasure over the style of their functioning.

    In the letter, the minister, while raising objections to their style of functioning, also asked them not to leak department-related information to the media. “To tame his ministers, Nitish attaches officers like Pathak with them,” RJD MLC Singh said while attacking JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar.

    Singh, who is considered close to Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi, also attacked senior JD (U) minister Ashok Choudhary for claiming that he was raising the issue of the minister-officer face-off due to his personal agenda.

    He said that Choudhary would have been in jail had RJD chief Lalu Prasad not helped him. Choudhary’s name had figured in the murder of senior Congress leader Rajo Singh.

    RJD leader alleged that Choudhary had the habit of changing parties and he would betray Nitish too. He also claimed that Choudhary had once used objectionable language against former chief minister Rabri Devi.

    Choudhary had also recalled ‘Jungle Raj’ days, an oblique reference to the Lalu-Rabri regime, and also alleged that Singh was speaking ‘language of BJP’. Choudhary sharpening his attack on RJD MLC Singh said that he was not the ultimate voice in the RJD as Lalu and former chief minister Rabri Devi had final say in the policy-related major issues.

    Opposition BJP took a jibe at the ongoing spat between RJD and JD(U). Former Bihar deputy chief minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that the ongoing verbal duel between two allies has an adverse impact on development works. 

    “The ongoing tussle between RJD and JD(U) has stalled development works while chief minister Nitish Kumar is a mute spectator,” alleged Sushil Modi. 

    He said the bureaucrats are so arrogant during GA regime that they don’t bother to listen to their political bosses (read respective ministers) and the spat between Prof Chandrashekhar and KK Pathak is no exception. “Yet leaders of both ruling partners claim that all is well in GA,” remarked Modi.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav takes the fizz off Nitish’s PM race

    Express News Service

    PATNA / NEW DELHI:  Pouring cold water on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s prime ministerial ambitions, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday hinted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi might be his choice for the Opposition’s PM pick in 2024. Before leaving for Delhi for his routine health check-up, Lalu told reporters in Patna that the next prime minister of the country should not live in the PM’s official residence without a wife.

    “Staying in PM’s residence without a wife is wrong and that should be done away with,” he quipped. His satirical comment was in response to a query that if his recent advice to Rahul ‘to get married’ meant he preferred the Congress leader to be the Opposition’s PM candidate.

    In the recent Opposition meeting in Patna, Lalu had praised Rahul’s efforts during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and his parliamentary speeches. While Rahul remains single, Bihar CM Nitish’s wife passed away in 2007. According to sources, a cold war is brewing between Lalu and Nitish with the recent transfer of a senior IAS officer close to the RJD leader being the latest trigger.

    After reaching Delhi, Lalu said the BJP’s days in power are limited and that the entire Opposition is united in their mission to protect democracy. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the party is two-faced and ridiculed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now welcoming leaders from rival parties such as the NCP in Maharashtra, who were till recently labelled as corrupt by him.

    PATNA / NEW DELHI:  Pouring cold water on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s prime ministerial ambitions, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday hinted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi might be his choice for the Opposition’s PM pick in 2024. Before leaving for Delhi for his routine health check-up, Lalu told reporters in Patna that the next prime minister of the country should not live in the PM’s official residence without a wife.

    “Staying in PM’s residence without a wife is wrong and that should be done away with,” he quipped. His satirical comment was in response to a query that if his recent advice to Rahul ‘to get married’ meant he preferred the Congress leader to be the Opposition’s PM candidate.

    In the recent Opposition meeting in Patna, Lalu had praised Rahul’s efforts during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and his parliamentary speeches. While Rahul remains single, Bihar CM Nitish’s wife passed away in 2007. According to sources, a cold war is brewing between Lalu and Nitish with the recent transfer of a senior IAS officer close to the RJD leader being the latest trigger.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    After reaching Delhi, Lalu said the BJP’s days in power are limited and that the entire Opposition is united in their mission to protect democracy. Hitting out at the BJP, he said the party is two-faced and ridiculed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now welcoming leaders from rival parties such as the NCP in Maharashtra, who were till recently labelled as corrupt by him.

  • Opposition meet in Patna on June 23; Rahul, Mamata, Kejriwal, Stalin agree to attend

    By PTI

    PATNA: A meeting of opposition parties, organised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be held in Patna on June 23, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday.

    Addressing a press conference with JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh by his side, Yadav said that top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the meeting.

    The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12, but was put off after some of the parties, including the Congress and the DMK, requested a change in date.

    JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken the lead in speaking to several regional satraps besides the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and the Left to forge unity among opposition ranks to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Nitish Kumar had recently said he was opposed to parties sending any leader except their respective heads to the meeting where the anti-BJP players will chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

    The JD(U) supremo has been pitching for “opposition unity” ever since he snapped ties with the BJP in August last year, following accusations that the ally was trying to create fissures in his party and diminish his standing.

    He has held separate meetings with leaders of many parties, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and leaders from the Left parties.

    As part of the “opposition unity” drive, Kumar has held parleys with not only Congress allies like Uddhav and Pawar but also its opponents like Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao.

    In fact, the idea of hosting a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna was floated by Banerjee, who had invoked the memory of Jayaprakash Narayan upon meeting Kumar in Kolkata last month.

    PATNA: A meeting of opposition parties, organised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be held in Patna on June 23, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday.

    Addressing a press conference with JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh by his side, Yadav said that top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the meeting.

    The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12, but was put off after some of the parties, including the Congress and the DMK, requested a change in date.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken the lead in speaking to several regional satraps besides the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and the Left to forge unity among opposition ranks to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Nitish Kumar had recently said he was opposed to parties sending any leader except their respective heads to the meeting where the anti-BJP players will chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

    The JD(U) supremo has been pitching for “opposition unity” ever since he snapped ties with the BJP in August last year, following accusations that the ally was trying to create fissures in his party and diminish his standing.

    He has held separate meetings with leaders of many parties, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and leaders from the Left parties.

    As part of the “opposition unity” drive, Kumar has held parleys with not only Congress allies like Uddhav and Pawar but also its opponents like Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao.

    In fact, the idea of hosting a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna was floated by Banerjee, who had invoked the memory of Jayaprakash Narayan upon meeting Kumar in Kolkata last month.