JD(U)-RJD at odds over Lalu’s son

The grim look on the faces of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in photographs when the two met recently is a giveaway of the shape of things to come in regard to the alliance between them. While a recent meeting of the RJD categorically ruled out the resignation of Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav as deputy chief minister following filing of a corruption case against him by the CBI, addressing a meeting of Janata Dal (United) legislators the next day Nitish made it clear that he shall not compromise with his principles and that he was firm on his resolve of zero tolerance against corruption. Alluding to raids conducted by the CBI against Tejashwi and other family members of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav’s family, Nitish asked for a point by point ‘fact wise’ reply in public by those against whom allegations of corruption had surfaced and gave them four days to do so. To that the RJD response was that the CBI action against Tejashwi was a “political conspiracy” to destabilise the Grand Alliance in Bihar. The case against Tejashwi relates to alleged manipulation in award of contract for maintenance of two hotels run by a subsidiary of the Indian Railways – IRCTC – when Lalu Yadav was Railway Minister in the United Progressive Alliance government.

While demanding a point by point fact-wise reply from Tejashwi, the Chief Minister said that he and his party would not break the Grand Alliance. But this is only for the record so that he is not seen as the cause of the rupture. If he removes Tejashwi from his position as deputy chief minister, the snapping of relations would predictably follow because Lalu and his family would not countenance a tie-up with JD (U) without Tejashwi being in it. Nitish too is looking for an alternative alliance with the BJP because that would give him better returns than an alliance with a tainted RJD with Lalu currently out on bail in the fodder scam case and his family tied in knots. Nitish has built up a reputation for integrity which he would like to zealously protect. By returning to the NDA fold, he could not only stay on as chief minister but also extract his pound of flesh at the Centre from the BJP. Nitish is indeed a hard bargainer and would not settle for an unattractive deal. There is even talk that the BJP may agree to support a Nitish-led government in Bihar from outside. All in all, the stakes in the battle for control of Bihar are high indeed. A lot would depend on how Nitish plays his cards and what bargain the BJP strikes with him.