Tejashwi won't quit: RJD to JD(U)

The RJD on Tuesday decided to stand by its leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, ruling out any chances of seeking his resignation.

The decision came hours after the JD(U) asked RJD chief Lalu Prasad to decide on Tejashwi’s future in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet within four days.

At an informal meeting at Lalu’s residence here, three RJD ministers reiterated that “since Tejashwi has done no wrong, there was no question of him resigning”.

“Tejashwi is an emerging leader who has a bright future. As a minister, his track record is impeccable.Despite being a newcomer, he has handled three ministries with equal aplomb. And most importantly, when he has done no wrong, why should he quit,” asked RJD ministers Alok Mehta, Sheo Chandra Ram and Abdul Ghafoor.

Lalu, who returned from Ranchi at 6.40 pm after appearing in a fodder scam case, held talks with senior party leaders, including Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Jagdanand Singh.  The party then decided to stand by Tejashwi like a rock and “not buckle under any pressure from an ally or an opponent.”

The Congress, too, appeared to be on Lalu’s side. “There is no political upheaval as such. It’s the media which is hell-bent on creating fissures within the Grand Alliance,” said Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary, who is also the education minister in Nitish's Cabinet.

The Congress has 27 MLAs while the RJD is the single-largest party with 80 legislators in the 243-member House. The JD(U)’s 71 members put the Grand Alliance tally at 178, far more than the half-way mark of 122.

The BJP, with its 53 MLAs, has informally promised outside support to Nitish if he walks out of the alliance to rejoin the NDA.