PATNA: That all is not well in Bihar’s Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance government has become more apparent than ever by the frequent chorus of its biggest ally RJD’s leaders for elevation of deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav as CM. The latest outpouring of this desire by a section of RJD MLA was seen at the residence of party chief Lalu Prasad. Tejaswi, 28, is a first-time MLA and younger son of the party chief. With the demand initially seen by both JD(U) and Congress as RJD’s internal matter, former CM Rabri Devi made matters worse the next day.
“Bihar ki janta maang kar rahi hai. Janta jo chahe wohi hoga,” (This is the people’s demand. What the people want would be done) Rabri Devi said. She made an appearance on a channel later that day and accused the media of “trying to create a rift in the coalition”.
Although Rabri Devi said that “there is no vacancy for CM post” questions were raised about why the demand for Tejaswi’s elevation keep emerging from RJD quarter.
A number of RJD leaders had come out in support of this demand, which Tejaswi himself downplayed later, saying he is, at present, gaining experience in governing. RJD MP from Bhagalpur, Shailesh Kumar, MLA Manorama Devi, minorities welfare minister Abdul Gafoor, disaster management minister Chandrashekhar Yadav are all in favour of the elevation.
“What we mean is that Tejaswi will become CM when Nitish Kumar becomes PM candidate during next Lok Sabha polls,” said RJD MLA Ramanuj Prasad. Prasad said “We front-line leaders (he and Nitish) are ageing and the next generation is ready to take over”.
Sources in RJD said Lalu is personally not keen for Tejaswi’s elevation before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “He wants to set the stage for Tejaswi’s elevation so that there is no claimant from JD(U),” said an RJD leader close to Prasad.