Lalu hints at SP-BSP pact for 2019 polls
Amid uncertainty over the formation of a “secular alliance” at the national level, RJD chief Lalu Yadav hinted on Wednesday at a possible tie-up between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati coming together will prove a major gamechanger; and, if it happens, then the 2019 match will be over,” Mr Yadav said at the party’s meeting to mark its 21st foundation day.
“There is an attempt by the BJP to break us because they know that once the secular forces come together their dream to return in 2019 will be over,” he said.
The RJD is holding a rally against the BJP on August 27 in Patna in which several Opposition leaders, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, are likely to participate.
As trouble brews within the Grand Alliance in Bihar, the BJP yet again targeted the RJD on Wednesday by calling its supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav the “Robert Vadra of Bihar”. RJD celebrated its foundation day on Wednesday. Describing Mr Yadav as the “biggest landlord of Bihar”, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Modi questioned chief minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on why the state government has failed to act against the illegal properties amassed by Mr Yadav and his family. Mr Modi also claimed that two senior RJD leaders had met two Union ministers to request them to save the political career of Mr Prasad’s sons.
Speculation has been rife within Bihar’s political circles that the JD(U) could snap its ties with the RJD over growing negative publicity and alleged illegal properties in Mr Yadav’s and his family members’ names. Rumours have been circulating in the state secretariat that Mr Kumar is “uncomfortable” with the RJD as an ally and therefore, no appointments at state commissions and boards have been done so far, nor has any major bureaucratic reshuffle or transfers taken place since the JD(U)-led alliance came to power. However, speculation is also rife that the RJD will never initiate to break ties as it is “enjoying power”. Though a section within the BJP wants the JD(U) to be back in the NDA fold, the party leadership also admits that “it is difficult to read Nitish Kumar’s mind”.
The BJP feels that while Mr Kumar has given no explanation as yet on the allegations against Mr Yadav and his family members, the former could not have gone to “such an extent” to support the BJP led NDA’s presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind if it was not to “irritate” the RJD and the Congress, constituents of the Opposition bloc, which has fielded former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar against Mr Kovind.
The BJP also claimed that the proposed “BJP hatao, desh bachap” rally by the RJD as “Benami sampati bachao” rally. The BJP has also decided to approach the Election Commission to seek action against Mr Yadav’s sons — state minister Tej Pratap Yadav and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav for giving improper details of their properties owned by them.