Explain source of income, huge wealth, JD(U) tells Lalu's son

The JD(U) on Friday asked RJD chief Lalu Prasad to explain the source of income of his son and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, and how he has been charged with amassing huge wealth.

This is seen as an indication that the strained relations between the two alliance partners in Bihar — RJD and JD(U) —  hangs by a thread.

“It’s not a major issue as is being made out. All you have to do is to explain your source of income and say how you amassed such large amounts of property. If you (Tejashwi) have done no wrong, then give a befitting reply to your opponents through a point-by-point rebuttal. The matter will end there,” said JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar here on Friday.

Amid speculation that Nitish Kumar was not ready to budge from his stand that a person charged with corruption cannot continue in his Cabinet, a section of the media claimed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi reportedly played peacemaker and talked to the Bihar chief minister as well as Lalu.

But a top AICC functionary told DH that Sonia had called up Nitish two days ago to thank him for extending support to the Opposition vice-presidential candidate, Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

“Besides, she urged Nitish to remain united with the Opposition during the ensuing monsoon session of Parliament so that the Narendra Modi government can be cornered on several sensitive issues. There was not much deliberation about the Bihar imbroglio,” the senior Congress leader said.

The leader, however, added that since Sonia wants the grand alliance to remain intact in the state, Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary met Nitish here on Friday and discussed how to overcome the deadlock with the RJD.

Meanwhile, Lalu, who appeared in a fodder scam case earlier in the day in Ranchi, returned to Patna in the evening. He held a meeting with party leaders and later told mediapersons that Sonia had not spoken to him on Friday.

He also said Tejashwi would not quit just because an FIR was filed against him.  Choudhary, who met Lalu on his return from Ranchi, said “we will resolve the issue”.