Lalu’s fresh invite to Nitish triggers speculations – Times of India
Patna: After maintaining silence for a year since he left the Grand Alliance in January last year, RJD chief Lalu Prasad extended an invite to CM Nitish Kumar to join the coalition, saying he was ready to “forgive and welcome” his socialist friend, heating up the state’s politics in the assembly election year.
The fresh offer of Lalu comes amid alleged reports of differences between the two key NDA allies—JD(U) and BJP—over who would lead the ruling coalition post-2025 state polls.
Lalu, while interacting with a private news channel on Wednesday evening, said he was ready to welcome Nitish after forgiving all his past acts. “Our doors are open and Nitish, being the CM, should also unbolt his gate,” Lalu said, adding, it doesn’t suit Nitish to desert them more often. Stating he would forgive all his past mistakes, Lalu said: “Maf karna mera farz hai (to forgive is my duty).” He asked Nitish to come back to the GA fold and work together.
Lalu’s remarks contradicts the declaration by his son and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, that the RJD has shut doors on Nitish. “There is no question of RJD entering into an alliance with JD(U)…We have shut the doors on it,” Tejashwi had told reporters in Sitamarhi barely two days back.
However, reacting to the RJD chief’s statement, Tejashwi told reporters on Thursday: “You people keep asking him this, what else would he say?”
When asked to comment over Lalu’s invite, Nitish, who was coming out from the swearing-in ceremony of new governor Arif Mohammed Khan, responded with a cryptic “Namaskar,” keeping everyone guessing about his next move. “Arre, kya bol rahe hain (What are you saying)?” was all Nitish said.
Union minister and former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, was bitter in his reaction to Lalu’s invite to Nitish. “What Laluji says and thinks should be asked from him only? We are with the NDA and with full firmness,” Lalan said.
BJP’s deputy CM Samrat Choudhary also hit out at Lalu, saying his offer signals that his party is scared of losing the upcoming elections. “We badly defeated him in the Lok Sabha elections and will emerge victorious in upcoming assembly polls,” Choudhary said.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also reacted to Lalu’s statement in Mumbai, saying it is”Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Sapne hi rahenge” (The dreams of Lalu Yadav will always remain dreams)”.
Amid this, a picture of Nitish patting his former deputy Tejashwi’s shoulder on the Raj Bhavan premises went viral on Thursday, triggering another round of speculations.
The fresh offer of Lalu comes amid alleged reports of differences between the two key NDA allies—JD(U) and BJP—over who would lead the ruling coalition post-2025 state polls.
Lalu, while interacting with a private news channel on Wednesday evening, said he was ready to welcome Nitish after forgiving all his past acts. “Our doors are open and Nitish, being the CM, should also unbolt his gate,” Lalu said, adding, it doesn’t suit Nitish to desert them more often. Stating he would forgive all his past mistakes, Lalu said: “Maf karna mera farz hai (to forgive is my duty).” He asked Nitish to come back to the GA fold and work together.
Lalu’s remarks contradicts the declaration by his son and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, that the RJD has shut doors on Nitish. “There is no question of RJD entering into an alliance with JD(U)…We have shut the doors on it,” Tejashwi had told reporters in Sitamarhi barely two days back.
However, reacting to the RJD chief’s statement, Tejashwi told reporters on Thursday: “You people keep asking him this, what else would he say?”
When asked to comment over Lalu’s invite, Nitish, who was coming out from the swearing-in ceremony of new governor Arif Mohammed Khan, responded with a cryptic “Namaskar,” keeping everyone guessing about his next move. “Arre, kya bol rahe hain (What are you saying)?” was all Nitish said.
Union minister and former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, was bitter in his reaction to Lalu’s invite to Nitish. “What Laluji says and thinks should be asked from him only? We are with the NDA and with full firmness,” Lalan said.
BJP’s deputy CM Samrat Choudhary also hit out at Lalu, saying his offer signals that his party is scared of losing the upcoming elections. “We badly defeated him in the Lok Sabha elections and will emerge victorious in upcoming assembly polls,” Choudhary said.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also reacted to Lalu’s statement in Mumbai, saying it is”Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Sapne hi rahenge” (The dreams of Lalu Yadav will always remain dreams)”.
Amid this, a picture of Nitish patting his former deputy Tejashwi’s shoulder on the Raj Bhavan premises went viral on Thursday, triggering another round of speculations.
