PATNA: Amid crisis within the ruling JD(U)-RJD alliance of Bihar, beleaguered Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav held a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday. He is understood to have sought more time to decide ‘if and when’ he should resign. Though the leaders of ruling alliances refused to reveal the details, reliable sources told Express that Kumar insisted on Tejaswi’s resignation.
“The CM expressed his displeasure over the way Tejashwi and the RJD issued clarifications on charges levelled against him and family members. The CM explained the political situation and told him that resignation is the best option,” said an RJD leader familiar with the development.
Tejashwi is understood to have listened to Kumar with ‘utmost patience’ and sought time to think over his options. It’s not clear how much time he has been granted or whether a time span was even discussed. However, sources claimed Lalu Prasad Yadav wanted to wait till the party’s upcoming anti-BJP rally in Patna is over on August 27.
JD(U) leaders perceptibly upbeat after the meeting, though they made no public statement on the development. “His resignation would be in the best interests of the grand alliance and the State government.
They (Tejaswi and Lalu) cannot be too blind to see this,” said a senior JD(U) leader close to Nitish. Congress leaders, who have been trying hard to defuse tensions between RJD and JD(U) ever since the Yadavs’ Patna residence was raided by CBI on July 7, expect Lalu to give the go-ahead for Tejaswi’s resignation in order to save the 19-month-old grand alliance government. will he, wont he:p9