Lalu makes Tejashwi RJD legislature party leader
SON RISE Move to appoint son invites criticism from Opposition
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad nominated his son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as the leader of the RJD legislature party on Monday, the inaugural day of the state legislature’s special session.
Former chief minister and Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi, however, will continue to be the party’s leader in the legislative council.
The decision drew criticism from the BJP, the principal opposition party, that attacked Lalu for offering both the crucial posts of the party in the legislature to his family members. RJD seniors, however, downplayed the BJP’s barbs, saying Lalu acted as per democratic norms. Tejashwi, a first-time legislator, won from Raghopur seat in Vaishali and was subsequently made the deputy chief minister in accordance with an electoral agreement with chief minister Nitish Kumar. The RJD emerged as the singlelargest party with 80 members in the house of 243-members in the just-concluded assembly polls.
The newly-elected leader of the BJP legislature party, Prem Kumar, who is also leader of opposition, accused the RJD chief of indulging in promoting “parivarvad” (dynastic politics).
Kumar said the move was nothing new for Lalu as the country had seen him push dynastic politics during the 15-year-rule of the RJD in the state. “He is carrying on in the same vein,” he added.
Former chief minister and HAM(S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi refrained from commenting on the decision, calling it an internal matter of the RJD.
However, Tejashwi hit out at the BJP, saying, “When people have accepted us (him and his brother Tej Pratap) and elected us, why is the BJP finding fault? I have been elected the LP leader. Once I take oath, I will speak. I am aware of my huge responsibility and will try to perform it to the best of my capacity,” he said.
HOUSE ADJOURNED AFTER MLA’S DEATH The first day of the maiden session of the Bihar assembly was adjourned following the death of newly-elected member Basant Kumar. A Rashtriya Lok Samata Party legislator, Kumar died due to a heart attack on Sunday night.