Ajay Alok resigns as JD(U) spokesman, says he doesn't want to 'embarrass' Nitish
Patna: Firebrand JD(U) leader Ajay Alok has resigned from the post of party spokesperson stating that he does not wish to cause "embarrassment" to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who also heads the party.
Although Alok, one of the most visible faces of his party, didn't elaborate on what might have "embarrassed" his political mentor, there have been murmurs of Kumar being upset over his party spokesperson going overboard in his criticism of the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal and the illegal immigration problem in that state.
He shared his resignation letter, addressed to the party's state unit chief Vashishtha Narayan Singh, on his Twitter handle late Thursday night.
"I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from post of spokesperson of the party as I feel I am not doing a good job for the party. I thank you and the party for giving me this opportunity but please accept my resignation," Alok said in the short letter of resignation.
In a subsequent tweet, he said, "I have resigned as a Spokesperson from JDU as I think I am not doing good job as my views which are mine ofcourse do not match with my party. Thanks to my Party and my President who has always supported me and I don't want to be a source of embarrassment for @NitishKumar (sic)."
On Wednesday, Alok had rebuffed Banerjee after she reportedly issued a statement commending Kumar for JD(U)'s decision to contest assembly elections in four states, other than Bihar, on its own and not as a part of the NDA.
Alok had accused the Trinamool Congress chief, of "converting her state into a mini Pakistan" and alleged that Biharis living in West Bengal were being driven out "not by Bengalis, but by Rohingyas".
The utterances had evoked criticism from opposition leaders in Bihar, some of them charging Alok with echoing the views of the Sangh Parivar notwithstanding Kumar's claims of adherence to social justice and communal harmony.
Notably, less than 24 hours before Alok announced his resignation, he had come out with a couple of tweets urging the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to crack down on the problem of illegal immigration.
"With the sacking of Income Tax department officials, @narendramodi has given a message that he is committed to wiping out corruption. But now, assets of those BSF officials who have been posted at borders along Bangladesh and Burma (Myanmar) must also be looked into. Bangladeshis and Rohingyas did not sneak inside just like that," he had tweeted.
In another tweet, he remarked, "Only railing against @MamataOfficial will not do. We need to strengthen our own mechanism, especially when @AmitShah is our Home Minister. Illegal immigration must be curbed. When, if not now?"
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Rahul Gandhi joins Haryana Congress leader's 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram
Gurugram (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined the 'Sadbhav Yatra' of Haryana Congress leader Brijendra Singh here.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reached Gurugram in the evening and joined the yatra. He also walked some distance with Brijendra, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh and other leaders.
Huge crowds had turned up for the occasion.
Later, Gandhi proceeded to the venue where he addressed a public gathering.
Leader of Opposition in Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other Congress leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, B K Hariprasad, state Congress chief Rao Narender Singh, were also present.
Brijendra Singh had on Thursday said it is a matter of joy for them that Gandhi was joining the 'Sadbhav Yatra' in Gurugram-Badshahpur, "thereby strengthening the Indian National Congress' campaign for brotherhood and harmony".
The 'Sadbhav Yatra' began from Danoda village at Narwana in Jind on October 5, 2025, and has covered 85 of the 90 assembly segments in the state.
The foot march was started by Brijendra Singh, son of Congress veteran Birender Singh, to highlight several national and regional issues.
State Congress chief Rao Narender Singh had asked all party leaders to take part in Friday's event.
Days before his yatra began in October, Brijendra Singh, who narrowly lost the 2024 assembly polls from Jind's Uchana Kalan, accused the ruling BJP of playing "divisive politics" and said that "sadbhav" (harmony) has come under stress in the last decade.
Brijendra Singh was a sitting MP from Hisar for the BJP when he resigned ahead of the 2024 general election and switched over to the Congress. He also alleged that the saffron party creates a wedge in society to achieve its political purpose.
The 'padyatra' has so far covered 85 assembly constituencies in Haryana, traversing more than 2,700 kilometres.
Addressing the public gathering, Brijendra Singh said the yatra is inspired by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he took the party's vision and values directly to the people of the country.
Singh said the yatra has highlighted issues like "Vote Chori" (vote theft), unemployment, poor law and order situation, agrarian distress, and issues related to government employees, labourers and traders.
"Sadbhav (harmony) and bhaichara (brotherhood), which the BJP is attempting to weaken, are the messages of this yatra," he said, adding that its slogan is "Congress ka haath bhaichara ka saath".
"This yatra is a natural extension of the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Brijendra Singh said.
