No chance of Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav's resignation: RJD

RJD Chief Lalu Yadav calls a meeting of MLAs amid straining relations with Nitish Kumar

Bihar: The dents in RJD-JDU coalition have deepened with the latest controversy surrounding RJD Chief Lalu Yadav and his family, in connection to the recent raids by CBI and ED at his residence and 11 other locations linked to his kin. With the staining bond, RJD chief Yadav seems to have gone in huddle and has called a meeting of his MLAs at his official residence on Monday morning. After the meeting was over  RJD has denied any discussion on Lalu's son Tejwashwi Yadav and stated that "BJP is making attempts to break the 'mahagathbandhan' alliance between JDU-RJD. The RJD leader further clarified that there is no 'proof' against Tejwashwi as yet and therefore he wouldn't resign. As per sources, the meeting is likely to discuss Nitish’s stand on the whole matter and the future of Nitish-Lalu alliance. The cracks in the relationship came on the sidelines of Nitish’s choice for granting his support to the NDA’s Presidential nominee Ramnath Kovind than supporting Meira Kumar, who is the face of UPA’s presidential candidate. It sparked a war of words between the alliance partners in the ruling Grand Alliance - a conglomeration of Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), the RJD and the Congress. With Kumar on one side and Prasad and the Congress on another, the Grand Alliance seems to be in tatters. The Congress has termed Kumar’s decision to break ranks a sign of flirting with the rivals, inviting ridicule from the Bihar CM. Earlier the week, he publicly dared the Congress to gather Opposition parties and set an alternative agenda for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Nitish Kumar’s silence on Lalu’s raids further came under scanner after he cancelled Monday’s public interface event and the subsequent press conference citing ‘health; grounds as a reason. The matter has triggered speculation that he was avoiding the media in view of the recent CBI raids on the family of alliance partner Lalu Prasad. Neither Kumar, nor his party, the JD(U), has commented so far on Friday's CBI raids in four cities in connection with a corruption case, in which Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi are among the accused.