Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has again claimed that the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar would fall and asked his Rashtriya Janata Dal legislators to be prepared for such an eventuality
“This is Bihar where four governments were formed in four years. Anything could happen over the next two to three months. The NDA government could fall. You all should stay prepared for it,” Tejashwi told RJD legislators during a marathon meeting at the 10 Circular Road residence of his mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi in Patna on Monday evening.
“There is a need for all of you to stand steadfast with the people. The future is yours. You must understand that everything is possible in politics,” the RJD leader and former deputy chief minister said while hinting that the Grand Alliance of the RJD, Congress and the Left parties may come to power in the state.
The meeting was called to discuss the future course of action, as well as chalk out plans to celebrate the 25th foundation day of the RJD on July 5. Party chief Lalu Prasad is expected to address the foundation day programme virtually from Delhi.
Tejashwi said the public have seen that the ruling dispensation in the state was a failure and has harboured no hope on it. He asserted that his party’s MLAs should fill the vacuum and termed Nitish “a fake socialist” who had nothing to do with the welfare of the people.Tejashwi’s comments come after his visit to his constituency Raghopur in Vaishali district last week where he told the people that Lalu was coming back to Patna soon and the Nitish-led government will topple in three months.
The imminent return of Lalu, currently the tallest leader in the state, after an absence of over three years, coupled with the continuous bickering among the NDA partners, have led to speculation about the future of the Nitish government, which is in power with a thin majority.
The RJD is the largest party in the Legislative Assembly with 75 MLAs and leads the Opposition alliance that has 110 legislators. The NDA has 126 MLAs and the support of an Independent legislator in the 243-member House. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM has five MLAs but is not part of the two alliances, while one seat is vacant.
Numerically, any party or alliance with 122 MLAs can form the government. However, the current situation is such that a shift of just a few legislators or their resignation can tilt the balance of power.
NDA partners — Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular and Vikassheel Insan Party — with four MLAs each, keep voicing discordant notes frequently and could become a cause for concern.
Tejashwi’s assertions have stirred a hornet’s nest with the NDA leaders attacking him for resorting to such statements to save his own party. “He (Tejashwi) is trying to save his own flock. Hence he is spreading propaganda about friction and split in other parties. He is trying to keep his MLAs united using it,” BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said.
JDU spokesperson and former minister Neeraj Kumar said the RJD legislators were thoroughly disenchanted with Tejashwi and were not going to believe his forecasts about the fall of the NDA government, which he has been making for several months.
On the other hand, Congress leaders said there was no need to try to break the NDA or its constituent parties.“The BJP and the JDU are already facing trouble due to internal friction and fights. Nobody has to make any effort to break them. They are going to implode,” Congress leader Harkhu Jha said.