Congress divided over Lalu’s declaration of Tejashwi as CM
Patna,(BiharTimes): The Bihar unit of Congress appears to be divided over RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s declaration made in Bhagalpur on Sunday that his younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav would become the chief minister of Bihar.
While party’s spokesman, Harkhu Jha, said that it is Lalu Yadav’s opinion about his son the central leadership of his party would take a decision on the issue of CM before the next state Assembly elections dissidents within the party flayed RJD chief.
Though BPCC chief Ashok Chaudhary and CLP leader Sadanand Singh––both considered close to chief minister Nitish Kumar––did not speak on the issue others like Buxar MLA Sanjay Kumar Tiwari wants his party to snap ties with RJD.
He said his party remained loyal to RJD for 27 years. “But now our our conscience does not allow us to raise slogans applauding their sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi. It is not possible. I have already conveyed this view to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during my one-on-one meeting with him in Delhi recently."
Tiwari may have his own reason to express his view, but political observers are of the view that in doing so he had gone overboard. “Actually the Congress supported the Rabri Devi government for the first time in 2000 when neithter NDA nor RJD could win absolutely majority. So it is 17 years long association and not 27 years. Even in- between these 17 years the Congress and RJD had fought elections sepratedly,” commented a Bihar watcher.
Congress has 27 MLAs in Bihar and a number of MLAs are soft towards JD(U)- BJP alliance. But since their number is not 18, that is two-thirds of 27, they are unable to formalize a split in the legislative party.
