RJD will support JD-U if Nitish retires: Tejashwi
Patna, July 5: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday said his party will support the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) in Bihar if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar retires from active politics.
Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, also reiterated that RJD will not allow Nitish Kumar's return to the Grand Alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"If Nitish uncle retires, we will support JD-U," Tejashwi said at a function to mark the 22nd foundation day of RJD that was celebrated without his father and party chief Lalu Prasad here.
Tejashwi Yadav taunted Nitish Kumar, saying he has been suffering from "political fever" -- in reference to reports that the Chief Minister was not well.
"We do not want, at any condition, to see Nitish Kumar in Grand Alliance. If he joins the Grand Alliance again, then Tejashwi will be called greedy. How can we offer membership to those who insulted the mandate of the people? We will not allow his entry into the Grand Alliance," Tejashwi Yadav said.
He said RJD had no greed for power.
Last week, Tejashwi Yadav categorically said that the doors of the Grand Alliance were closed for Nitish Kumar.
He, however, said that the Grand Alliance, which also includes the Congress, was ready to welcome BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief and Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha. "We will welcome his (Kushwaha) entry into Grand Alliance."
It was widely speculated that senior Congress leader Shakti Singh Gohil, who is party in-charge for Bihar, had asked Nitish Kumar to rejoin the Grand Alliance.
Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi also extended an invitation to Nitish Kumar on the condition that Tejashwi Yadav would be the Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls.
Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tarique Anwar has also ruled out inviting Nitish Kumar to the Grand Alliance.
The Grand Alliance comprises the Congress, NCP, RJD and HAM.
Last July, Nitish Kumar -- also the JD-U president -- joined hands with the BJP and formed the government in the state after dumping the Congress and the RJD.
In the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, the Grand Alliance of JD-U, RJD and Congress had defeated the BJP-led NDA.
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BJP to retain Assam, win Bengal; NDA to emerge strong in TN, Kerala, Pondy: Pradhan
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said the BJP would retain power in Assam, while expressing confidence that there would be a change of government in West Bengal, citing people’s continued faith in PM Narendra Modi and the party.
Asserting that NDA is likely to return to power in the union territory of Puducherry, he expressed confidence that the BJP-led alliance would emerge strongly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The counting of votes for all five Assemblies—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and Assam—will take place on May 4.
Polls were conducted in a single phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, while West Bengal saw two phases of polling on April 23 and 29.
On April 9, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry went to the polls, while Tamil Nadu voted on April 23.
“Beyond exit polls, all of us who worked in the election campaign this time in the five states (four states and one union territory) are confident that the BJP will retain power in Assam and that, for the first time in a long period, West Bengal is heading for a major change,” Pradhan said.
Speaking to reporters, the union education minister said there is significant anti-incumbency against the TMC government in West Bengal due to alleged misgovernance, appeasement politics, and corruption.
“The people of West Bengal are reposing their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the policies of the BJP and the leadership of the state BJP. I am confident there will be a change of government in West Bengal,” he added.
Pradhan said that, in all probability, the NDA (All India N R Congress–BJP alliance) will retain power in Puducherry.
“In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, I think we are all confident that our alliance will emerge strongly,” he added.
Several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a thumping victory for the BJP in Assam and a clear edge for the party over the ruling TMC in West Bengal, while projecting a return of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala after 10 years.
However, some pollsters predicted a big win for the TMC in West Bengal and a hung House in Tamil Nadu, with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK emerging as a spoiler for the DMK. Almost all forecasts indicated a return to power for the AINRC-led NDA government in Puducherry.
