Two days after the JD(U) national executive resolved to replicate the Bihar Grand Alliance model in other poll-bound states and project Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ‘development face’, the RJD on Tuesday said that replicating the Bihar model was important but “this is not the time to talk of any individual”. The RJD stopped short of naming any individual, but stressed on the importance of focusing on development in Bihar. Party spokesperson Manoj Jha told The Indian Express: “Replicating the Grand Alliance model in other states going to polls is important, but this is not the time to talk of any individual. We have to focus on Bihar. Leadership emerges in the socio-political background.” Asked if the JD(U)’s idea of projecting Nitish as the “most convincing face against Modi” was hurting the RJD, Jha said the Grand Alliance was focused on Bihar and emulating the model in other states. The RJD has seemed uneasy with the JD(U)’s renewed efforts to cobble together a Grand Alliance-type combination in states going to polls, and keeping Nitish in focus as the “nucleus of anti-Narendra Modi politics”, especially after the thumping victory of the alliance over the NDA in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s absence at JD(U) president Sharad Yadav’s book release, where top leaders of several parties were present, also indicated some frostiness between the two parties. Asked about Lalu’s absence from the gathering on Monday, Jha said: “The event had due representation from the party. Laluji had other engagements.” The RJD was represented by its Banka MP Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav and party spokesperson Manoj Jha. He also parried questions about Lalu not attending the event because of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s presence. While Kejriwal apparently takes Nitish as an ally, he wants to avoid Lalu because of his conviction in the fodder scam case. JD(U) MP Ali Anwar said: “Our national executive, however, did not discuss any individual but talked of taking the Bihar experiment further. Lalu has no problems with such an effort. One should not read too much in it.”
