Tejashvi Yadav row: JD (U) calls on RJD to respect party sentiments

Image: PTI/File

New Delhi: In Bihar, the ties between the Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is getting weaker over Tejashwi Yadav row and the JD (U) has said that it is RJD's responsibility to respect the party's sentiments. Speaking to ANI, JD (U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said that a situation has come where RJD has to take a decision keeping in mind their party's sentiments. This has come after Tejaswi Yadav skipped an official function on July 15 which he was supposed to attend with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Meanwhile, both Tejashwi and RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav have ruled out resignation for the Deputy Chief Minister, who is embroiled in corruption charges. Tejashwi has maintained that all is well as long as the alliance with Janata Dal (United) is concerned. Speaking to ANI, Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan had said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar needs to take a decision on the fate of Tejashwi Yadav soon or it will become a disadvantage for him. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi; former Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Managing Director P.K. Goyal; and the wife of Lalu's confidante Prem Chand Gupta, Sujata on allegations of awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006. The CBI later questioned Rabri Devi and Tejashwi. Amid the present acrimony between ruling JD(U) and RJD of the grand alliance, BJP said it does not favour snap polls in Bihar. The party also extended support to Nitish Kumar's stand that deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav must come clean on corruption charges against him. "We are not in favour of mid-term polls in Bihar. Such a situation should not arise in the state," senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters. BJP sought to steer clear of the acrimony between the two ruling allies saying it is not going to extend inside or outside support if JD(U) severs ties with RJD. "BJP does not believe in breaking the alliance government, but wants it to complete its term. Party's parliamentary board will decide the issue depending on the political situation," the BJP leader said. Sushil Modi, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, said Kumar has on several occasions supported BJP and the Centre on various issues. An intense "check and mate" game is going on between the two warring allies, but both are wary of losing power, the BJP leader said expressing hope that the situation will be resolved at the earliest. Meanwhile, RJD leaders requested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and coalition partner Lalu Prasad to sit together to solve the crisis in the ruling coalition, but the ruling JD-U on Sunday said "everything is all right". "Coalitions may see tensions and pressures but everything is all right in the Grand Alliance," said Janata Dal-United spokesperson Neeraj Kumar. (With inputs from agencies)