However, both Manjhi and Kushwaha rubbished Singh's statements and denied any rift in the NDA in Bihar
Senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh triggered a virtual political quake in Bihar when he claimed that former Chief Minister and HAM (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi and Union Minister and RLSP President Upendra Kushwaha, both of whom are NDA-allies, were in touch with their party and could join forces with them.
Hinting at an imminent split in the BJP-led alliance, Singh said, "A number of NDA leaders in Bihar are in touch with RJD." He claimed that only joining formalities were left in case of some politicians. JD(U) leader and former speaker of Bihar Assembly Uday Narayan Choudhary also met incarcerated RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in Ranchi on Monday.
The statement gains importance in the backdrop of HAM-S leader Brishen Patel calling on Lalu in Ranchi earlier this month. While Patel said Lalu he had come to ask about Lalu's well-being, it is also known that Manjhi shares good terms with the RJD president. Even Kushwaha had expressed sympathy towards Lalu and family and Singh said they would have participated in RLSP's January 30 human chain for education, if it were not a part of the NDA.
Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly and former deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad yadav welcomed Singh's statement by asserting that the split will not come as a surprise because Manjhi was not given due respect. "No one wants to stay with Nitish Kumar. His MLAs are unhappy with him. Kushwaha is forming a human chain against deteriorating education scenario in Bihar while Manjhi is feeling choked in the alliance," Yadav said.
The Congress jumped in to RJD's support and sought to know why Kushwaha was making a human chain against their "allies" if all was well in the NDA. "The human chain is for improvement in education sector in Bihar. But it is the NDA government at both Centre and state levels and Kushwaha himself is the junior Union HRD minister," said Kaukab Quadri, President of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC).
However, both Manjhi and Kushwaha rubbished Singh's statements and denied any rift in the NDA in Bihar. Senior BJP leader and deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi said the NDA was strong and the RJD leaders were trying to reassure themselves by making such statements.
Lalu matters
- The statement gains importance in the backdrop of HAM-S leader Brishen Patel calling on Lalu in Ranchi earlier this month. Manjhi shares good terms with the RJD president.
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