Bihar CM Nitish on Lalu’s ‘door always open’ overture: ‘Kya keh rahe hain?’

On Wednesday, RJD’s top leaders issued divergent statements. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said: “Nitish Kumar is tired now and just as a field needs new seeds for remaining fertile, Bihar needs new leadership.” His father Lalu, however, said: “If Nitish Kumar decides to join us, he is always welcome. We will work together.” Earlier, RJD spokesperson Bhai Birendra, too, had issued a statement saying Nitish would be welcome to the Mahagathbandhan fold again.

Nitish told reporters in response to Lalu Prasad’s statement: “Kya kah rahe hain (what are you saying)?”. Asked if the government would complete its term, he moved on with hands folded. Newly-appointed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who was accompanying the CM, intervened: “This is not the time to ask such questions.” Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary was also present.

Earlier, Nitish had postponed his Pragati Yatra in view of the seven-day mourning declared after the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Bihar CM had also visited Singh’s family in Delhi.

Union minister and former JD(U) national president Rajeev Ranjan Singh said on Lalu’s statement: “The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) remains strong and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD(U) are united. One is free to speak whatever one wants. Lalu Prasad is also free to speak and he alone can elaborate on what he says.”

Tejashwi tried to explain his father’s statement: “I have made my stand clear. As for my father’s statement, what can one do if the media comes to him with the same question over and over again?”

A senior RJD leader said: “Creating confusion and trying to cause rifts within the NDA suits us. Just as JD(U) and BJP have been posturing, our leaders have been counter-posturing.”

A senior JD(U) leader said: “This is all bunkum. Whatever RJD says can only suit our seat-bargaining politics in the coming days. The NDA is going ahead with its scheduled joint press conferences of alliance leaders in districts on January 10 and workers’ meetings in districts on January 15.”