'Modi Govt May Fall By...': Lalu Yadav Makes Big Claim, Says Another Election Imminent. BJP Hits Back

RJD chief Lalu Yadav called on his party workers to prepare for early elections as he remarked that the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre is 'very weak'.

File Photo of former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav (Source: PTI)

On the occasion of Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) foundation day, former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday claimed that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre is weak and could fall within a month. Speaking at an event marking 28 years since the formation of his party, Prasad suggested that the Modi government might not last beyond August. Prasad, who has been a vocal critic of the BJP, made these assertions in a weak voice, speaking for less than 10 minutes.

He was accompanied by his younger son and heir apparent, Tejashwi Yadav. "The Modi government is weak (kamzor). It can fall any time. It can fall in August," Prasad stated, urging party workers to be prepared for such a scenario, as quoted by news agency PTI. He highlighted that the RJD had increased its seat count and vote share in the recent Lok Sabha elections compared to five years ago.

#WATCH | Former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav says, "I appeal to all party workers to be ready, as elections can happen anytime. Modi's government in Delhi is very weak and it can fall by August..." pic.twitter.com/WHK832xH62

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024

"For quite some time, we have been the single largest party in the Bihar assembly. Unlike many others, we have never compromised on ideology," Prasad added, recalling his tenure and achievements, including the arrest of Lal Krishna Advani in 1990.

His comments come at a time when most NDA leaders were attending a BJP function celebrating the newly inducted Union ministers from Bihar. Reacting to Prasad's statements, Union Minister Nityanand Rai, a former Bihar BJP president, dismissed them as hallucinations, using the colloquial Hindi phrase "Mungeri Lal ke hasin sapne".

"People have voted for Modi, who is now serving a record third term. Under his leadership and guided by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the NDA in Bihar will continue to defeat the opposition, which was disgraced during RJD's rule," Rai said.

According to PTI, despite the public dismissal, sources in both the RJD and NDA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that Prasad's remarks were a calculated move to exploit existing tensions within the NDA.

Tejashwi Yadav Slams Bihar Govt Over Bridge Collapses, Paper Leaks

Tejashwi Yadav, former Bihar deputy chief minister, addressed the gathering and lambasted the state government's performance, highlighting several infrastructural and administrative failures.

"People say there is double engine government in Bihar," he remarked, adding, "In the past 20 days, more than a dozen bridges have collapsed in the state. A number of train accidents have happened. Crimes are at their peak in Bihar. There was an incident of paper leak also. But, no one from the government is ready to speak on these issues. When they are asked, they say Tejashwi has done all this. Hum hi paper leak karwa rahe hain...hum hi pull girwa rahe hain...toh giraftar karlo humein... (If I am leaking out the exam papers and demolishing the bridges then arrest me) For the last 17 years, the Rural Development Department has been with JD(U)."

#WATCH | Patna | Speaking on RJD's foundation day event, Tejashwi Yadav says, "...People say there is double engine government in Bihar...In the past 20 days, more than a dozen bridges have collapsed in the state. A number of train accidents have happened. Crimes are at their… pic.twitter.com/K4ANoKoh3T

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024

"I challenge the CM or BJP leaders to release details including about who sanctioned and laid the foundation stone of bridges which have now collapsed. This way it will become clear who is corrupt," he remarked.

Tejashwi Yadav further criticised the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] for compromising on its ideology for power, aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He asserted, "Those from Janata Dal (U) compromised with their ideology due to their greed for power and allied with BJP. Rashtriya Janata Dal is the only party which has neither compromised nor kneeled before BJP. Being in power is not the biggest thing. Our fight is for those who are weak & deprived."

#WATCH | Patna | Speaking on RJD's foundation day event, party leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "...Those from Janata Dal (U)compromised with their ideology due to their greed for power and allied with BJP. Rashtriya Janata Dal is the only party which has neither compromised nor… pic.twitter.com/Hctt5My7Tj

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024

In his speech, Tejashwi highlighted RJD's increasing popularity and its commitment to social justice. "In Lok Sabha elections, our vote share increased by 9%, while NDA's vote share was reduced by 6%. Today, RJD has won 4 seats. We could have won more. Even then, our alliance has won 9 seats in this Lok Sabha polls," he stated.

#WATCH | Patna | Speaking on RJD's foundation day event, Tejashwi Yadav says, "...If anyone raised reservation quota to 75%, it was the Mahagathbandhan government...BJP is against reservation...After NDA-BJP govt came to power in Bihar, it stopped the reservation hike in the… pic.twitter.com/sUYSSlXotO

— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024

Tejashwi also addressed the issue of reservation, accusing the BJP of being against it. "It was the Mahagathbandhan government that raised reservation quota to 75%...BJP is against reservation...After NDA-BJP govt came to power in Bihar, it stopped the reservation hike in the state. This is the reason we have been saying that the BJP is not just against Bihar but also against reservation."

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP fell short of a majority and formed a government with the help of allies like JD(U), headed by Nitish Kumar. Kumar, a long-time rival of Prasad, has recently emphasised his commitment to stability and unity within the BJP-led NDA, which includes Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha, all of whom have had disagreements with the JD(U) leader.