Amid speculation regarding a potential rift in the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar, Nitish Kumar, the leader of JD(U), took a dig at 'parivarvaad' or familial on Wednesday. In response, his coalition partner, RJD, asserted that the Bihar Chief Minister's comments were aimed at the BJP.
Addressing a rally during the birth centenary celebration of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, Nitish Kumar stated that JD(U) adheres to the principles set by the late leader, refraining from promoting any family members within the party ranks.
Karpoori Thakur, posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna by the central government for his efforts in uplifting backward communities, served as a role model for Nitish Kumar. The Bihar Chief Minister, expressing approval of the government's decision to honor Thakur, emphasized that the late leader did not favor promoting family members within his party.
"After Karpoori Thakur's demise, we made his son Ram Nath Thakur a Member of Parliament," Nitish Kumar remarked. "We also did not promote anyone in the family following Karpoori ji's path," he added.
It's worth noting that Tejashwi Yadav, the son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, serves as Nitish Kumar's deputy in the Bihar government, while Tej Pratap, another son of Lalu Yadav, holds a ministerial position in the state government.
Responding to Nitish's statement, RJD leader and Bihar Minister Lalit Kumar Yadav asserted that 'parivarvaad' is more prevalent in the BJP, insinuating that the Chief Minister's jibe was directed at the BJP. Lalit Kumar Yadav affirmed the unity of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.
Another RJD leader and Bihar minister, Alok Mehta, questioned the relevance of Nitish Kumar's statement, highlighting that Tejashwi Yadav's involvement in politics should not be hindered simply because he is Lalu Yadav's son.
Despite recent remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah causing a stir in Bihar politics, where he suggested that former allies like Nitish Kumar could be welcomed back into the NDA fold, Tejashwi Yadav dismissed rumors of a Mahagathbandhan split, attributing them to the BJP's efforts to spread misinformation.
