‘Good opportunity to…’: Tejashwi Yadav on Nitish Kumar emerging as kingmaker

Nitish Kumar and his former INDIA ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav flew to Delhi in the same plane.

Published on: Jun 5, 2024, 19:59:25 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said the greater bargaining power of Nitish Kumar is a good opportunity to ensure special status for Bihar and a caste-based census in the country. Tejashwi, who was in Delhi to attend the meeting of the opposition bloc, asserted that the “magic” of Narendra Modi has finished as he is now dependent on his allies to form the government.

Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish Kumar were in the same flight while travelling to Delhi on Monday. (PTI)

“NDA has numbers but we want whichever government will be formed should take care of Bihar and ensure that Bihar gets a special status. It is a good opportunity for Nitish Kumar.”

"Bihar has emerged as the kingmaker. Whichever government comes, the kingmaker should ensure that Bihar gets special status, the 75 per cent reservation we gave, that should be brought under Schedule 9, and caste census should be conducted across the country," the RJD leader said.

Follow LIVE updates on NDA meeting

Tejashwi Yadav travelled to Delhi from Patna in the same flight as Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar did, sparking buzz around the possible discussions that may have taken place between the two leaders. Speculations were rife if there were attempts to get him to the opposition's camp. Yadav, however, maintained that their interaction in the flight was limited to exchanging courtesies.

"We greeted each other, I was allotted the seat behind him but he saw me and called me to sit with him..."

BJP-led NDA meeting concludes, top leaders set to stake claim to form government

He also hailed the Samajwadi Party candidate's victory in Faizabad.

"We won Ayodhya. Prime Minister used hate speech against Muslims. Ram ji also taught him a lesson," he said.

"We are happy people of the country have voted to save Constitution and to give a lesson to the autocratic regime. The people of this country don't like politics of hatred. In last 10 years, Modi did not give any account of his work, so people taught a lesson," he said.

INDIA bloc leaders met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence Wednesday evening to decide on the strategy to form the government.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.