Lalu dismisses coalition rift, says BJP and media creating unnecessary trouble

RJD chief Lalu Prasad has called on grand alliance leaders to show their unity, and also charged the BJP of trying to create a rift in the coalition.

In a seemingly conciliatory pitch, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Thursday said grand alliance leaders needed to bury their differences and show a united front.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad (left) with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. Prasad has called on grand alliance leaders to show their unity, and also charged the BJP of trying to create a rift in the coalition. (HT File Photo)

The statement came days after a war of words caused discord in the RJD-Janata Dal (United)-Congress coalition, leading to an outburst by former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin against chief minister Nitish Kumar.

“ We have made Nitish Kumar our leader of the Grand Alliance,” he said, insisting that the coalition was focussed on governance and not petty politics.

Prasad was also critical of the opposition BJP, accusing it of attempting to wedge coalition partners apart. He insisted that the saffron party was out to derive political mileage from the recent developments.

“BJP-funded media sycophants are so interested in affairs of non-BJP ruled states. They are openly challenging and questioning courts. Strange isn’t it,” the RJD chief tweeted, hitting out at the media too.

He accused the media of being partisan for the noise over Shahabuddin’s release, stating they had ignored the fact that the former MP was out on court orders and not political influence, as charged by the BJP.

“ But BJP should know, they will not succeed in their gameplan to create fissures in the Grand Alliance. We have not stitched the coalition in a hurry but after much deliberations and weighing all pros and cons (Thok Thack-key),” he said.

The comments came after photographs of his elder son and Bihar health minister, Tej Pratap Yadav, surfaced, showing him with two alleged sharpshooters suspect for the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

The BJP, which staged a dharna against Shahabuddin’s release on Wednesday, also attacked Tej Pratap for the photographs.

“The past is past . Enjoy the present,” Prasad said dismissing the whole issue of a break in the coalition.

Instead, he announced that a grievance cell will be set up for leaders to voice their grievances.