‘If Nitish Kumar is kingmaker, he should get Bihar special status, push for caste census across country’: Tejashwi Yadav

The support of Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu' TDP is key for BJP's third term

Tejashwi Yadav, former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, Karpoori Thakur’s tenure, quota for all, all sections backward classes, Muslims reservation, OBC quota, OBC reservaion quota, indian express news

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. (File Photo)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav Wednesday asserted that if JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar is a “kingmaker” he should get Bihar a special status and push for a caste census across the country.

With BJP falling short of a majority, securing only 240 seats in a 543-member house, the party will need the support of its allies to form the government for the third time. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) together secured 293 seats, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) claiming 16 and 12 seats, respectively, making them the biggest parties after the BJP. Their support is key for PM Modi to come back in power.

“Bihar has emerged as the kingmaker. Whichever government comes, the kingmaker should ensure that Bihar gets a special status, the 75 per cent reservation we gave, that should be brought under Schedule 9, and caste census should be conducted across the country,” Tejashwi said.

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“This is an old demand of ours and Nitish Kumar has also supported it. It’s good opportunity for him, if he’s a kingmaker… at least he should get Bihar special status, and hold caste census across the country,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Yadav and Nitish travelled to Delhi from Patna in the same flight, sparking buzz of attempts to get him to the Opposition’s camp, which has secured 233 seats. Dismissing the speculation, Yadav stated that their interaction in the flight was limited to exchanging courtesies.

The INDIA bloc, on it part, has indicated a restraint rather than a proactive push to explore government formation, after leaders of the Opposition alliance met at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

“We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP’s government. This is our decision,” Kharge said, reading out a joint statement of the alliance on Wednesday.

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