Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Jan 2: Amidst renewed speculations that the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar may again switch sides, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Thursday that the “doors” of the opposition alliance was open for the Janata Dal (United) leader to rejoin the INDIA bloc.
Though his assertion did not get much support from other quarters with Mr Kumar himself refusing to react on the issue except expressing surprise, it has fuelled further speculation in Bihar about the possibility of another alliance between the two veteran leaders, often referred to as “bada bhai, chhota bhai” (big brother, little brother) in the state’s political circles.
Even his son Tejashwi Yadav, a former deputy chief minister under Mr Kumar in the “Mahagathbandhan” government, did not take Mr Yadav’s statement seriously claiming that his father might have made the assertion only to calm down the journalists who were demanding a statement from him on Mr Kumar’s possible flip-flop.
When asked about Mr Yadav’s statement about doors being open of the INDIA bloc for him, Mr Kumar offered a cryptic response. Folding his hands and after a smile, he curtly responded, “Kya bol rahe hain (What are you saying?)” without elaborating further.
This exchange comes in the wake of Mr Yadav’s statement during an interview, where he said, “Our doors are open for Nitish Kumar. He should also unbolt his gates. This would facilitate movement of people from both sides.”
Mr Yadav’s overture to Mr Kumar follows a history of turbulent alliances. Mr Kumar has aligned with the RJD twice in the last decade, most recently as part of the Mahagathbandhan before switching sides to rejoin the BJP-led NDA in 2024.
Mr Tejashwi Yadav and heir apparent in the RJD, downplayed his father’s remarks, suggesting they were made to “satisfy the curiosity of the media.” Speaking to journalists at the swearing-in ceremony of new Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Tejashwi Yadav said, “You keep asking him this; what else would he say? He said this just to calm you all down. He was simply addressing your questions.”
Tejashwi Yadav, however, added that the new year would witness the end of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government. He further accused Mr Kumar of being “captive” to a small group of close advisors and no longer capable of running Bihar independently.
Union Minister and JD(U) leader Lallan Singh dismissed Lalu Yadav’s remarks. “The NDA is strong. JD(U) and BJP are united. People can say whatever they want – it is a free country,” he said. “We are with the NDA and with full firmness. I cannot react to what people say–there is freedom of expression; people can say whatever they want,” Mr Singh told reporters.
Reacting to Lalu Yadav’s statement, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said in Mumbai that “dreams” of the RJD chief would always remain dream. “The dreams of Lalu Yadav will always remain dreams (Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Sapne hi rahenge). They will never be fulfilled,” Devendra Fadnavis said.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said RJD supremo was making such statements out of ‘fear.’
“Nitish Kumar knows Lalu Prasad Yadav inside out… Lalu Prasad Yadav is just scared,” Samrat Chaudhary said. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan said, “If followers of Gandhi detach themselves from the followers of Godse, then we are with them.”
Earlier Tejashwi Yadav made a pledge for Bihar in 2025, promising to end unemployment and migration from the state. Speaking about his vision for the upcoming year, Yadav declared, “In the new year, we have resolved that this time we will end unemployment and migration from Bihar. We will form a new government in the new year.”
The RJD leader said the new government if elected would focus on key areas including education, medicine, income, irrigation, and accountability. He also stressed the need for significant reforms in the state’s administrative machinery. The assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in October-November 2025.
