Latest news with #JD(U)
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dy CM asks JD(U) minister to follow alliance dharma
Patna: Senior BJP leader and deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha had a verbal spat with JD(U) minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary in the NDA legislators' meeting held in the central hall on Monday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The meeting was held to discuss the floor management during the rest four days of the monsoon session. Sinha targeted Choudhary for not inviting local MLA Prahlad Yadav in the official function of the rural works department at Suryagarha in Lakhisarai, the home district of Sinha, for laying the foundation stones for several development projects last week. Suryagarha comes under Munger Lok Sabha constituency, which is being represented by former JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, who was also present in the function that day. Prahlad, a six-time MLA from Suryagarha, had supported the Nitish govt in the floor test after the JD(U) chief dumped RJD-Cong alliance and formed the NDA govt again with BJP in Jan 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. When contacted, Prahlad justified Sinha's stand. "Hum saath diye hain aur itna alag kijiyega? Alliance dharam ka palan to karna hin chahiye na. Choudhary ji was getting upset and shouting. Vijay ji as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had also opposed serving mutton among the supporters that day in the month of Shrawan. Jiski apni jameen nahi aur jo kripa par hai, uspar kya kahna," Prahlad told this newspaper after the ruckus. When asked if he apprehended not getting BJP ticket in the coming election as he had defeated JD(U) candidate Ramanand Mandal in 2020, Prahlad said, "This had always been a BJP seat before Mandal last time. BJP had won this seat thrice." Meanwhile, some of the MLAs, including BJP's Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, also opposed the global tendering for state govt projects by Choudhary, who justified it, leading to a ruckus. Gyanu said the global tendering will cause losses for the NDA in the elections. Some of the MLAs also expressed anger over the way the tap water supply scheme was implemented in the state. Sinha said not just one but all the allies will have to follow the coalition dharma. He also said Prahlad had supported in forming the NDA govt and the top leaders were already aware of it.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nitish should hand over CM's post to son: Rabri
Patna: Former Bihar CM and leader of opposition in the state legislative council, Rabri Devi, on the opening day of the monsoon session on Monday, said that CM Nitish Kumar should now pass on the baton to his son for the post of state's CM, as he was young. Talking to reporters on the legislative council campus, she said the law and order related problems are everywhere in the country, but Bihar's situation is particularly grim. "Nitish is the state's CM and he also has the home department under him. It is clear that he is unable to control the situation. He should pass on the mantle of the post of CM to his son," she said. When asked by reporters whether she demanded resignation of the CM over law and order issue, she said, "No, I am not seeking his resignation. Instead, he should make his son the state's CM, since he is young." Reacting to Rabri's remark, JD(U) chief spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar advised her to worry more about her elder son and MLA Tej Pratap Yadav , who has been expelled from the family and the party by its national chief Lalu Prasad for transgressing the family morality by being in relationship with a woman even when the divorce between him and his wife was pending in the court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indian Investors Are Buying These Dubai Apartments—Here's Why Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo Senior BJP functionary and deputy CM Vijay Kumar Siha said: "Her (Rabri's) party (RJD) would go high in public esteem, if she considered removing her husband (Lalu) from the post of the party's president, as he had been convicted by a court."
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Voiced sentiments of JD(U) workers: Upendra Kushwaha on suggesting Nitish Kumar give up party's control
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha on Monday claimed that he is in touch with "thousands of JD(U) workers" and had "voiced their sentiments" in suggesting that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should give up control of the party. Addressing a press conference here, a day after the Rashtriya Lok Morcha president had caused a flutter with his social media post, Kushwaha made it clear that he considers Nitish Kumar as an "incomparable leader, among the top five political figures in the country". Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Technology Digital Marketing Operations Management Leadership Artificial Intelligence MBA Degree PGDM CXO Data Analytics Data Science Product Management others Data Science Project Management Management Public Policy Design Thinking healthcare MCA Others Healthcare Cybersecurity Finance Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details "What I had said yesterday was the sentiment of thousands of JD(U) workers. Because of my past, I remain in touch with the party workers. They, too, are comfortable in sharing their sentiments with me. I had merely voiced their sentiments," claimed Kushwaha, who had quit the outfit headed by the chief minister over a couple of years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop And Nudges Her To Follow - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo The Rajya Sabha MP, who had been the chairman of the JD(U) parliamentary board, was of the view that Bihar's longest-serving CM would do better to concentrate on running the government "in the interests of the state". However, Kushwaha was also of the view that the 75-year-old JD(U) president would do well by giving up the reins of the party, which has found "new hope" in Nishant, the reclusive son of Kumar. Live Events Kushwaha, however, evaded a direct reply on queries about the prospects of Nishant. "I am not sure what is in the mind of Nishant or Nitish Kumar ji. But, of course, anybody is free to enter politics. As per the Constitution, a person willing to enter politics cannot be lawfully prevented from doing so even by his closest family members," Kushwaha said cryptically. He announced that his party will be holding a rally in Patna on September 5. The remarks of Kushwaha, who has been in and out of JD(U) at least thrice, seem to have left the party in disarray. JD(U) chief state spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar reacted to Kushwaha's statement, saying, "Only Nitish Kumar can take a decision on Nishant." He asserted that the party has full faith in the leadership of the patriarch. Kumar has been the JD(U)'s supreme leader ever since it was formed in 2003 and though he has been its national president for more than a year, for the most part, the top post has been held by his key aides.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Nitish may stay as Bihar CM, but should step down as JD(U) chief: Kushwaha
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who had quit the JD(U) two years ago, on Sunday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should give up the reins of the party, which has new hope in the supreme leader's son Nishant. Kushwaha, who has now floated his outfit Rashtriya Lok Morcha, came up with a post on his X handle, extending birthday greetings to his former mentor's son. Learnt from social media that it is the birthday of Nishant, the son of big brother (bade bhai), respectable Nitish Kumar. On this occasion, heartiest greetings to Nishant, the new hope of JD(U). May God always keep him happy and healthy, said the Rajya Sabha MP. I take this opportunity to make a humble request to Shri Nitish Kumar ji that it is no longer feasible for him to run both the government as well as the party, said Kushwaha, who has been in and out of the JD(U) at least thrice. The NDA partner, however, made it clear that he was not suggesting that the 75-year-old, whom the coalition has declared as its face for the upcoming assembly polls, discontinue as chief minister. Kushwaha said Kumar has a long experience in running the government, and it is in the interests of the state that he continues. But there must be a concrete decision on passing over the mantle of the party. This is not just my opinion but that of thousands of workers of the JD(U). Any delay in taking a decision will cause irreparable harm to the party, he asserted. "I am saying something that most JD(U) leaders cannot think of directly communicating to the Chief Minister, said Kushwaha, who was the party's parliamentary board chairman until his exit in 2023, when he alleged that Kumar had struck a deal for merger with arch rival Lalu Prasad's RJD. A year later, Kumar did yet another political volte-face, snapping ties with the RJD and returning to the BJP-led coalition. Reacting to Kushwaha's statement, JD(U) chief spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said, Each and every worker of the party is standing with Nitish Kumar, having full faith in his leadership. As regards Nishant, only he and his father can take a decision in the matter. Kushwaha had been in the JD(U) since its inception in 2003, when Kumar backed him for the post of leader of the opposition in the state assembly. A few years later, after Kumar became the chief minister, Kushwaha parted ways and formed the Rashtriya Samata Party. In 2009, he merged Rashtriya Samata Party with the JD(U) and Kumar rewarded him with a Rajya Sabha berth. However, Kushwaha again fought with his mentor and quit the JD(U) in 2013 to form Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP). In 2014, contesting as an NDA ally and riding the Modi wave, Kushwaha made his Lok Sabha debut and was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. However, he gave up the ministerial berth in 2018 and quit the NDA to join the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. Two years later, he left the coalition and contested the 2020 assembly polls as Chief Ministerial candidate of an alliance that included Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM and Mayawati's BSP. The RLSP drew a blank in the assembly polls, and a few months later, Kushwaha merged the party with the JD(U), and was again rewarded by Kumar with the post of parliamentary board chairman and a berth in the state legislative council. In last year's Lok Sabha polls, Kushwaha finished third in Karkat, after CPI(ML) winner Raja Ram Kushwaha and runner-up Pawan Singh, Bhojpuri superstar who contested as an Independent candidate after refusing a BJP ticket from West Bengal. In the more than 20-year-long journey of JD(U), Kumar has retained full control over the organisation, even though the post of national president, which he currently himself occupies, has been held by his trusted aides at different points in time.
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Caste divide, political polarisation, third alternative: Why the Bihar election is wide open
Legislative assembly elections in India are often fought and won on local issues. The overall national narrative, such as the national security rhetoric of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can at best be an add-on to the prevailing regional issues. Bihar is no exception to this, and its polarised political landscape with a sharp caste divide makes it even more difficult to sway the voter's mood solely through issues like Operation Sindoor, India's military operation against Pakistan, which was launched to avenge a terrorist attack. Although the Bihar legislative election is due in October this year, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as the Opposition parties, have already started positioning themselves for the polls. The significance of the Bihar assembly election can be gauged from the fact that both Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have visited the state several times recently. Modi's choice of a public rally in Madhubani district in Bihar to announce his resolve to avenge the recent barbaric terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir carried symbolic significance. A recent poll survey conducted by C-Voter, however, suggests that Operation Sindoor is likely to have only a marginal impact on the mood of the electorate. Nonetheless, factors such as Modi's strong leadership and his stance on Pakistan will certainly play a role during the BJP's election campaign. Caste census impact The impact of free food distribution, LPG connections, and toilet construction for poor households often pushes Modi's leadership rating above that of his opponents. The Opposition's poll plank of demanding a caste census may not yield significant gains for any political party in Bihar. Modi's initial resistance and vacillation, followed by his sudden appropriation of the caste census plank, means that all the political parties in the state support a caste census. Both the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the central fulcrums of the two opposing alliances – the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan (the Opposition's grand alliance – were at the forefront of the campaign demanding a caste census. Hence, the credit gets evenly distributed. Coalition of the willing Bihar is the only north Indian state where political power has eluded the BJP without the support of an alliance. Unlike in a parliamentary election, in Bihar the party cannot rely on Prime Minister Modi's persona alone to secure victory. Despite all major BJP leaders in the state coming from the Other Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes, it has not been able to take on JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar or RJD leader Lalu Prasad on its own. The BJP has not been able to groom a regional leader of any consequence. For many years, it bet on Sushil Modi, a backward class leader. But that did not work. Then it propped up Samrat Choudhary, a backward caste Koeri leader. However, now the Koeri votes are being targeted by giving space to former JD(U) leader Upendra Kushwaha of the Rashtriya Lok Manch in the BJP-led alliance. The party wants to prop up a younger and more acceptable face to take on Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD. The announcement by Chirag Paswan, son of the late Dalit leader Ramvilas Paswan, to contest the assembly election from a general seat (rather than a constituency reserved for Dalits) has fuelled speculation about BJP's game plan. Although he is part of the National Democratic Alliance, Paswan appears to be preparing for a post-Nitish Kumar political vacuum in the alliance, which currently lacks a prominent state leader. The BJP's attempt to form a government without any major local ally in 2015 ended in a fiasco, depriving it of power for several years. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reason to believe that the BJP can rule the state only in coalition with his party, the JD(U), and that he alone has the option of allying with both the RJD and BJP. He has done so twice in the past. It is not that the BJP has not tried to dispense with Nitish Kumar. It tried and failed. However, that may not prevent it from trying again. Nitish Kumar is ageing and in indifferent health. Besides, he leads a government facing 20 years of anti-incumbency. The BJP may see this election as an opportunity to split the JD(U), possibly after the election. Whether Kumar survives the most difficult test of his political career will depend on the number of seats he wins and his ability to keep his flock together. X-factors The Bihar election has also become more interesting due to the entry of a new political party – Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party. The Jan Suraaj Party is not a party born out of a mass movement. It is neither ideological nor a dynastic regional party. It is more akin to a start-up led by ace election strategist Prashant Kishor, who aims to capitalise on misgovernance, the deteriorating law and order situation, and the outward migration of workers and students due to lack of industrialisation and the collapse of educational institutions. The party is also targeting caste-agnostic voters in the state, as well as those who dislike the RJD but are averse to voting for the BJP and JD(U). CSDS-Lokniti data suggests that in 2020 many who traditionally voted for BJP were also reluctant to vote for JD(U). If the Jan Suraaj Party succeeds in poaching voters from both sides of the political divide, it may prove to be the X-factor in this election. State of the Opposition The Opposition Mahagathbandhan is heavily reliant on the father-son RJD duo of Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, and their Muslim-Yadav voter base. Despite being in Opposition, the RJD is not in a position to fully capitalise on the anti-incumbency against the government, owing to its two stints in a government led by Nitish Kumar. Still, with a vote share of around 23%, and an alliance with the Left parties and others, it remains a strong contender. Much will depend, however, on whether non-committed voters outside the Muslim-Yadav base shift towards the RJD. As for the Congress, while it may be the sheet anchor of the Opposition alliance nationally, in Bihar it brings little to the table given its negligible organisational presence. Though Nitish Kumar is down, he is not fully out of the race. He retains support among the Extremely Backward Classes, Mahadalits, and women voters of the state. But politically, he appears beleaguered and vulnerable, possibly fighting the last battle of his career. The Bihar election will clearly be determined by local factors, with caste and anti-incumbency being crucial determinants of the electoral outcome. However, the yearning for change is palpable in Bihar, and the quest for a third alternative among voters makes the 2025 election wide open.
