'Jab Ayenge Tab Dekha Jayega': Lalu Yadav Says RJD Doors 'Always Open' For Nitish Kumar

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said on Friday that his party doors were always open for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said on Friday that his party doors were always open for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

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New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Friday that the party's "doors were always open" for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, despite their recent political estrangement after Kumar's return to the BJP-led NDA. Prasad, who has maintained a reserved demeanour following his party's loss of power due to Kumar's abrupt shift, made the remark while speaking to the media, news agency PTI reported.

The two leaders were seen exchanging pleasentries on Thursday within the Vidhan Sabha premises. Prasad, who has been primarily confined indoors since his kidney transplant surgery two years back, visited to boost the morale of RJD candidates Manoj Jha and Sanjay Yadav, both of whom filed nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Asked about the cordial interaction signaling a potential reconciliation with Kumar, who has "betrayed" him twice, resulting in his son Tejashwi Yadav losing the deputy CM's position on both occasions, Lalu Yadav said, "Let him come back. Then we will see ('jab aaenge tab dekha jaaega')."

Pressed further on whether the doors remained open for the former ally, Prasad, who shares a long-standing association with Kumar since their days as student leaders in the 1970s, said, “Those are always open.”

However, state BJP president Samrat Choudhary downplayed Prasad's remarks, emphasising that it was Kumar who held the authority to determine alliance formations. "It is for Nitish Kumar to decide whether he wants to be with the BJP or RJD. What difference is anything said by Lalu ji going to make?” said Choudhary, who has assumed the role of deputy CM.

Meanwhile, JD(U) MLC and chief spokesman Neeraj Kumar said in a statement, "Lalu ji says the doors are still open. He should know that the famous padlock of Aligarh has been placed on the doors. Our leader Nitish Kumar has clearly said whenever RJD has shared power with us, it has engaged in corruption. There is no question of going back". 

Further responding to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's statements about Nitish Kumar, Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "Bihar's former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav is ailing. He is scared. Ever since CM Nitish Kumar announced that those who looted the people of Bihar won't be spared, the entire family is heaping praises on him. CM has ordered us to implement a zero-tolerance policy against corruption...Rule of law will be established here. Double-engine government will take PM's mantra of 'Sabha Saath Sabka Vikas' to every household. He (Lalu Yadav) may make as many attempts as he wants but CM has said that the public mandate was, is, and will be with the NDA," ANI reported.

#WATCH | On RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's statements for Nitish Kumar and Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "Bihar's former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav is ailing. He is scared. Ever since CM Nitish Kumar announced that those who looted the people of Bihar won't be… pic.twitter.com/rXeII7o0d8

— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2024