Ex-Speaker slams JD(U) ‘vendetta politics’, says Lalu Yadav gaining popularity after conviction

“The current politics of vendetta has only made Lalu a stronger leader. Imprisonment has never done him harm. Instead, his supporters are rallying behind him,” said Choudhary, who has raised a banner of revolt.

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Choudhary told The Indian Express: “Since there is no internal democracy in JD(U), party leaders cannot talk about the ground reality concerning Lalu Prasad. But I will speak the truth: I could sense that Lalu Prasad is only gaining in public perception after his conviction in the second fodder case. Lalu has succeeded in playing the victim card.”

JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar countered Choudhary’s assertions. “Lalu Prasad has been held guilty in a two-decade-old corruption case by a court of law. Where is the question of vendetta,” PTI quoted him as saying. He added that cases against Lalu’s family “relate to amassing of benami property by the self-proclaimed champions of the poor. Their public image is shattered.”

Choudhary lost his Assembly seat, Imamganj (reserved, SC) in Gaya, to former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi in the 2015 Assembly elections.