Bihar political crisis: JD(U) downplays Nitish-Tejashwi meeting, maintains mahagathbandhan is unbreakable

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s party Janata Dal (United) made conflicting statements on Thursday about the demand for Tejashwi Yadav’s resignation over his alleged involvement in the land graft case. [caption id=“attachment_3788813” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Tejashwi Yadav. IBN Khabar[/caption] Soon after the closed door meeting between the chief minister and his deputy Tejashwi, which signalled that the ruling mahagathbandhan may survive, the JD(U) leaders sought to make it clear that the charges of corruption against the RJD leader were not discussed at all and his party was still waiting for his explanation. Referring to CBI’s FIR against Tejashwi for getting a piece of prized land in Patna, in lieu of awarding licenses of two IRCTC run hotels to a private company when his father and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav was railway minister, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said, “It has left stains on the face of our government. Who will erase it? Obviously, the onus is on the RJD to come clean. People who voted us owe an answer from them.” Other spokesmen, Ajay Alok and Rajeev Ranjan, also lashed out at the RJD for trying to ignore the issue by projecting that Tuesday’s meeting between Nitish and Tejashwi had resolved the issue.  Meanwhile, Tejashwi, who is in Delhi, said that there was no threat to the mahagathbandhan. On the other hand, JD(U)’s general secretary KC Tyagi, contrary to his party colleagues, also echoed Tejashwi’s statement saying the ruling alliance was unbreakable. He also hinted that Nitish never demanded resignation from Tejashwi and only said that those facing corruption charges must go to people’s court and furnish an explanation. Amid the war of words between the RJD and the JD(U), third alliance partner Congress sought to dispel any friction within the mahagathbandhan. Congress spokesman Dileep Chaudhary expressed confidence that all was now well within the alliance but accused that some JD(U)  leaders were still trying to blow the issue out of proportion.