Rahul, Tejashwi meet creates flutter
Talks end speculations of RJD, Cong growing rift
Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s younger son Tejashwi Yadav having a one- on- one luncheon meeting with Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi has created a flutter in the state politics. He, however, didn’t reveal what transpired between them, but RJD insiders claim that “both the leaders met to discuss political situation of the state”.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s younger son Tejashwi Yadav having a one- on- one luncheon meeting with Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi has created a flutter in the state politics.
“Rahul Gandhi invited me for lunch. I feel grateful and thank him for that,” former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said on Twitter and also released photographs of the meeting on Friday.
He, however, didn’t reveal what transpired between them, but RJD insiders claim that “both the leaders met to discuss political situation of the state”.
The meeting also ended speculations about the RJD’s growing differences with the Congress in Bihar. Political observers are also discussing the timing of the meeting as few leaders in the state unit of the Congress had started staking claims on Araria Lok Sabha seat, which is a minority- dominated constituency and was earlier held by the RJD.
The seat fell vacant after the sudden demise of RJD MP Mohammad Taslimuddin in September this year.
“The Congress must contest from a minority dominated constituency in order to fight against communal forces. The Congress is a national party and it should contest from Araria Lok Sabha constituency,” Congress leader Ashok Chaudhary, who was removed as state unit chief in September, had floated the idea Thursday in Patna.
The rift had widened between the RJD and Congress after a section, led by former Congress state president Ashok Chaudhary, had started opposing party’s alliance with the RJD after CM Nitish Kumar dumped the Grand Secular Alliance and formed a government with the BJP in July this year.
A sizeable number of Congress legislators had even urged Rahul Gandhi to snap ties with the RJD chief, who is facing a string of corruption charges.