Nitish dials Lalu, Tejashwi says doors closed for his re-entry to Grand Alliance

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rubbished suggestions by the leaders of the Congress that Nitish Kumar’s return to the “mahagathbandhan” could be considered if he chose to snap ties with the BJP.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s phone call to ailing RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday evening has sent sparks flying in political circles of a possible realignment of two parties once again. Kumar, the JD (U) president, called Lalu and enquired about his health. Lalu underwent a fistula operation at a Mumbai hospital on Sunday.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference in Patna. (PTI Photo)

Kumar’s party rejoined NDA in July 2017 after parting ways with the Grand Alliance. A debate has broken out over the projection of Kumar as the face of NDA in Bihar, which did not go well with other alliance partners, the RLSP and the LJP.

Only recently, the Kumar-led NDA did not like the manner in which it was demeaned by Union minister for road and surface transport Nitin Gadkari for not providing land for road projects.

Kumar reciprocated the gesture by criticising the Namami Gange Project. Neither Kumar nor his ministers took part in the Yoga Day programme organised officially for the first time in Bihar. But leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav was quick to rule out any possibility of Kumar’s return to the GA. “The door is closed for his return,” said Tejashwi on Tuesday evening.

JD (U) sources ruled out any possibility of Kumar quitting NDA. “It’s all for getting bigger share in the Lok Sabha election,” said a senior JD (U) leader.