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With the possibility of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar making another switch to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha has said that Lalu Prasad Yadav, the chief of the party has been authorised to take all the decisions.
Speaking to the reporters here, Manoj Jha said that the meeting held on Saturday in Patna deliberated on all state and national issues. "A positive meeting was held. Discussion on several things was done. All the issues, whether from the national or state level, everything were discussed during the meeting. It was a legislature meeting, Lalu Yadav, Dy CM (Tejashwi Yadav) all MLAs, everyone was present. We all have authorised Lalu Yadav to take the decision..." he said. RJD leaders on Saturday gathered at party supremo Lalu Prasad's home in Patna for an emergency meeting convened by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. Besides Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, former chief minister, the meeting was attended by senior leaders, including members of the state legislature. The ruling JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar is on the brink of collapse as there is likelihood that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar could cross over to the NDA again, the alliance he parted his ways in 2022 to form the 'mahagathbandhan'. Amid the reports, Nitish Kumar's former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's cryptic statement, "No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed," has added another layer of suspense to the development. Notably, the RJD is the largest alliance partner in the 'Mahagathbandhan,' which includes Congress and three Left parties and falls eight members short of a majority in the assembly in the event of Kumar's JD(U) pulling out. In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator. If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides. In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Jungle Raaj'. Till now, he became Bihar's CM on eight occasions. In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi's selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided to not change its decision, Kumar left the alliance. In 2017, Nitish forged a grand alliance with the RJD and Congress and returned as chief minister in 2015. He walked out of the grand alliance in 2017, accusing the RJD of corruption and choking governance in the state. In 2022, Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP once again, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him. However, as per the sources, Tejashwi Yadav told the leaders of the party present at the meeting that the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is "respectable" but there were many factors that were not under his "control." "CM Nitish Kumar was and is respectable. Many things are not under his (Nitish Kumar) control. RJD's allies in the 'Mahagathbandhan' always respected the Chief Minister..." Tejashwi Yadav was quoted as saying by the sources. The sources further said that Tejashwi had also hinted at many unexpected developments in the state. "The Chief Minister used to sit with me on the stage and ask, "What was there in Bihar before 2005?" I never reacted... Now, more people are with us. Whatever remained undone in two decades, we managed to get it done within a short time- be it jobs, caste census, increasing reservation, etc. 'Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain' (The game is yet to begin in Bihar) Yadav reportedly said. The Bihar BJP core committee meeting that was held on Saturday has also now been concluded, in Patna. Speaking after the meeting, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "Nitish Kumar is still the CM and Tejashwi Yadav is the Deputy CM, what can I say on this...." With the recent reports that the Bihar CM is poised to shift his allegiance, the unity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) - the 28-party Opposition bloc, formed to take on the BJP-led Central government- appears to be in jeopardy. (ANI)
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