Tejashwi Yadav to quit before July 28? Nitish Kumar firm, Lalu Prasad may relent

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is learnt to have conveyed his decision to the alliance partners of Mahagathbadhan over Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

Nitish Kumar has made it clear to both the RJD and the Congress leadership that under the present circumstance Tejashwi Yadav cannot continue in his government. Tejashwi Yadav has to go before Bihar Assembly meets for Monsoon Session on July 28.

Nitish Kumar does not want to face the Opposition in the Assembly with corruption taint on his deputy in the government. Tejashwi Yadav has been made an accused in a case of corruption by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Raids were conducted by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at residences and properties belonging to the Yadav family. Tejashwi in his response accused the BJP of framing him by using the central agency.

Reports suggest that Nitish Kumar has conveyed the message to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and also made this clear to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his meeting with him yesterday in New Delhi.

LALU LIKELY TO RELENT

On the other hand, there are reports that Lalu Prasad Yadav is willing to reconsider his decision about his son Tejashwi Yadav continuing in the government. Lalu Prasad Yadav is not in favour snapping ties with the JD(U) over the issue of resignation of Tejashwi Yadav.

At one point of time Lalu Prasad Yadav was considering withdrawing all the 12 RJD members in the Nitish Kumar government including his sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap. But, over the last week, Lalu Prasad Yadav has seemingly recalibrated his stand.

Lalu Prasad has already played the victim card after the CBI and ED raids. With Nitish Kumar staying firm on his decision to have Tejashwi out of his cabinet unless he gives a point-wise reply in public to all the allegations leveled by the agencies, Lalu Prasad may project his younger son as another victim of vendetta politics of the BJP.

SONIA, RAHUL AS PEACE BROKER

Some observers say that things started moving towards a compromise between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad after Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke to both the leaders earlier this month. Sonia is believed to have asked both the leaders to resolve the issue without breaking the alliance.

Congress is the third partner in the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. Nitish has recently been seen inclined towards the BJP over several issues. The latest was the Presidential Election when Nitish broke ranks with the Opposition to support BJP candidate Ram Nath Kovind. The Bihar unit of the BJP has made it clear that it would welcome back Nitish Kumar in the NDA fold if he parted ways with the RJD.

The Congress, however, has been trying to keep the grand alliance together and keep the BJP out of power in Bihar. This also helps the Congress keep the Opposition camp strong against the BJP at the Centre.

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