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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BESCOM to organise EV expo for Secretariat employees in Jan 2025
Bengaluru (PTI): To encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EV), Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) announced on Friday that a special EV fair will be organised for the Secretariat employees in January 2025.
During a meeting at the BESCOM office, Managing Director Mahantesh Bilagi said, "The fair is being organised following a directive of Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and will be conducted under the supervision of Energy Minister K J George and Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Gaurav Gupta."
According to him, the event aims to educate attendees about the benefits of environmentally friendly EVs and to encourage the adoption of two-wheeled EVs.
"During the fair, dealer discounts to government employees, particularly those in the Secretariat will also be offered. There will also be opportunities for practical demonstrations of the vehicles at the exhibition site," added Bilagi.
He said the Secretariat employees will also benefit from no down payment and low-interest loans to purchase the EV vehicles.
"EV companies are eager to participate and the sales will extend beyond the exhibition, continuing in the future," the Managing Director said.
The state, particularly Bengaluru, has the highest electric vehicle (EV) users, said Bilagi, adding that to support this, the Energy Department has provided essential infrastructure.
"BESCOM's efforts in promoting EV usage have been recognised with the 'Charge India 2024 Excellence' award. This award is a testament to our commitment to establishing excellent charging facilities. Karnataka has the country's most public electric vehicle charging stations, with a total of 5,765 stations, of which 4,462 are located in the Bengaluru Urban district," said Bilagi.
The Secretariat Employees' Association president Ramesh Sanga and other office-bearers, BESCOM Technical Director H J Ramesh as well as senior officials attended the meeting.
