This is an archive article published on June 4, 2017
BJP opposes Tejashwi plan to open bridge as b’day gift to Lalu
Lalu’s son and Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, had last week said that inaugurating the bridge on June 11 would be a gift to his father and the people of Bihar.
Written by Santosh Singh
Patna | June 4, 2017 04:43 AM IST
2 min read
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Lalu Prasad skipped a grand opposition gathering on Saturday.
AMID THE speculation that all is not well between Bihar’s ruling partners JD(U) and RJD, and former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad skipping the grand opposition gathering in Chennai on the occasion of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s 94th birth anniversary on Saturday, the BJP is mounting pressure on the state government to not inaugurate the Chhapra-Ara bridge on June 11, Lalu’s birthday.
Lalu’s son and Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, also the road construction minister, had last week said that inaugurating the bridge on June 11 would be a gift to his father and the people of Bihar.
But BJP Legislature Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said: “The Chhapra-Ara bridge should be named after Jayaprakash Narayan, and must not be opened on Lalu Prasad’s birthday. Total Revolution Day, June 5, would have been the most befitting day (to inaugurate the bridge). If Tejashwi wants to gift something to his father, he should do it from his personal property.”
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An RJD leader said on condition of anonymity, “If the government now reschedules the bridge inauguration date, it could further sour the relationship between us (RJD and JDU).”
Fuelling further the speculation of a rift, both Lalu’s minister-sons, Tejashwi and Tej Pratap, had skipped Friday’s Cabinet meeting.
Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
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