'Tejashwi Yadav Is Not Mahagathbandhan's CM Face': JD-U's Fresh Attack Ahead Of Bihar Polls

JDU leader and Bihar minister Shravan Kumar on Friday said Tejashwi Yadav cannot become the CM face of the Mahagathbandhan as the constituent partners are not agreeing. He also defended the launch of the 'Mahila Samvad Yojana' right ahead of the Bihar elections, saying it shouldn't be linked to the polls.

'Mahagathbandhan Is A Selfish Coalition'

Shravan Kumar stated that the Mahagathbandhan is a coalition with each party having its own selfish interest. "The RJD will ally with the Left or anyone who serves its interests. If the coalition partners don't accept Tejashwi as the chief ministerial candidate, RJD will not proceed with them and the Mahagathbandhan will disintegrate. Even if it remains united, it won't affect us," Kumar said.

He further said that the NDA, on the other hand, was free from any such confusion, as all the constituents agreed on Nitish Kumar as the coalition's CM face. "The NDA will contest the Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. He is the chief ministerial face. The NDA will form the government again and he will become the Chief Minister.

"Even after two [Mahagathbandhan] meetings in Delhi and Patna, no consensus could be reached on Tejashwi's candidature as CM. Although he has been appointed as the chairman of the Mahagathbandhan's coordination committee, which will decide on every election-related issue — from seat-sharing to election strategy — no decision has been taken on the CM's face. 

NDA's Ambitious Target

He said the NDA has set a tall target for itself this year — 225 seats. The NDA currently has 138 members in the 245-member assembly. Regarding the dialogue programme, he said it will discuss the schemes implemented by the Bihar government for women and the benefits they receive.

He further said that the 'Mahila Samvad Yojana' of the Rural Development Department was part of Nitish Kumar's welfare measures for the state and should not be seen as an election gimmick. "This programme will address the problems of women in the state and find solutions to them. Reservations have been provided for women and girls in panchayat and government jobs. Prohibition has been implemented, dowry eradication, child marriage prohibition, Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana, student uniform scheme, Jeevika, and many other schemes are being implemented."

(Story by Sashank Kumar.)

elections