Senior Yadav leaders vow to defeat Nitish-Lalu combine

The Janata Parivar’s bid to unite the social justice groups received a jolt on Sunday when senior Yadav chieftains vowed to work for the defeat of RJD-JD(U) candidates in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections due in September-October this year.

Senior Yadav leaders, including Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, former Union minister Devendra Prasad Yadav, Surendra Yadav and a host of social activists as well as intellectuals with belief in Mandal ideology met at the residence of former JD(U) MP from Patliputra, Ranjan Prasad Yadav, to discuss their role in the upcoming polls.

After a two- hour meeting held under the aegis of Mandal Vichar Manch, they decided to work for the defeat of candidates of Lalu Prasad’s RJD and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in the next assembly polls.

“We will campaign in all 38 districts, 534 blocks and 8,500 panchayats to ensure the defeat of RJD and JD(U) candidates,” said Ranjan Yadav and Pappu Yadav.

They also decided to support the candidates of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) led by Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav and Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) led by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The leaders accused RJD chief Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar of ignoring the interests of the Yadavs and using them to serve their political interests. “The political vision of the Yadavas was blurred as if they have been “inflicted with cataract” and “given the dose of opium” in the name of social justice during the 15 years of RJD and 10 years of JD(U) rule,” they said.

“This is a meeting of people who believe in social justice and secularism. The poor belonging to Mandal Parivar did not receive the benefits they should have got during the 15-year rule of Prasad and 10 year regime of Kumar. We discussed this and decided to make efforts to defeat the candidates of JD( U)- RJD and ensure the victory of JAP and HAM (Secular) nominees,” Ranjan said.

Ranjan, who is considered the political mentor of Lalu Prasad, said that the RJD chief ensured that his family members grew in politics instead of promoting genuine party workers, especially the Yadavs, who toiled hard to install his government.

Attacking chief minister Nitish Kumar, Ranjan said that the JD(U), which came to power on anti-Lalu agenda, has compromised on the principles of good governance and joined hands with the RJD. “It is unfortunate and rank opportunism on part of the JD(U) leadership for power,” Ranjan said.

Speaking on the occasion, Pappu Yadav accused Prasad and Kumar of insulting the Mahadalits, Yadavs and minorities in the state. “Altogether, 32,000 Yadavs died during the reign of Prasad and Kumar. I know about these things and there should be a CBI probe into the matter,” Pappu alleged.

Pappu Yadav also alleged that Kumar was against the minorities and claimed he had removed all ministers belonging to the minority community from his cabinet, be it Jamshed Ashraf, Parveen Amanullah or Shahid Ali Khan.

Several leaders from HAM (Secular), former ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, professors, doctors and high -ranking officials from all over the state participated in the meeting.