Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, is proving to be a hot potato for CM Nitish Kumar, following his name figuring as an accused in a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 5.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav's younger son and Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, is proving to be a hot potato for CM Nitish Kumar, following his name figuring as an accused in a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on July 5.
In the political corridors of Bihar, Nitish is known to be an image-conscious leader who does not tolerate corruption. In 2009, Nitish had brought in a Special Courts Act for trial of disproportionate assets cases against legislators and bureaucrats. The law also provided for confiscation of their properties.
More than a decade ago, when Nitish was sworn in as the CM in 2005, he dropped his cabinet colleague and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi within four hours of swearing in, after learning that Manjhi's name figured in an old FIR lodged in connection with an education department scam.
Despite such precedents, neither Nitish, who is currently in Rajgir due to health issues and reportedly visiting tourist spots in the area, nor any JD-U leader has spoken on the matter. "Nitish ji is watching the developments... It is only a matter of time before he takes a call on it," said a JD-U leader.
The RJD, with 80 MLAs, is the senior partner in the Mahagathbandhan, in which the JD-U has 71 MLAs and the Congress, 27. The dilemma for Nitish, who is often seen in the same frame with Tejashwi at public events, is that dropping the junior Yadav may result in severance of ties with the RJD. "However, Nitish ji will not compromise with his Vikas purush and clean image," the JD-U leader claimed.
Political observers believe that Nitish may not be willing to break ties so soon, now that he has an upper hand in the alliance, and will wait till the CBI coming up with further revelations or charges are framed against Tejashwi.
On previous occasions, when the BJP targeted other Yadav family members, including Health Minister and Tejashwi's brother Tej Pratap Yadav over alleged benami properties, he had said that the RJD has already clarified the matters.
The Congress, meanwhile, has come out in support of Lalu clan. Party's Bihar chief Ashok Choudhary along with other senior leaders visited Lalu's 10, Circular Road residence here on Saturday, and has termed the CBI raids, "a conspiracy of the BJP".
The BJP, meanwhile, stepped up its attack on the Mahagathbandhan. "Where is Nitish, who had earlier asked ministers like Manjhi, Ramnandan Singh, Awadhesh Kushwaha and Ramadhar Singh to resign over corruption charges? When will he seek Tejashwi and Tej Pratap's resignation?" asked party leader Sushil Kumar Modi.
Helping ‘hand’
The Congress has rushed in to capitalise on Lalu’s strained ties with Nitish.
Party’s Bihar unit chief Ashok Choudhary on Saturday visited Lalu and has termed the CBI raids, “a conspiracy of the BJP”.
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