NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal engaged in a war of words on Wednesday following a verbal exchange between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav in the assembly.
After Nitish stated, “he made Lalu Yadav what he is today,” Tejashwi retorted, asserting that he was the one who brought the JD(U) leader to the position of Chief Minister twice. “Nitish Kumar Ji should be aware that prior to him, my father was already a two-time MLA and MP,” Tejashwi remarked. “It was I who made him (Nitish Kumar) Chief Minister on two occasions and safeguarded his party,” he added.
RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha criticized Nitish for harboring illusions of being the “Brahma” of Bihar. “I am concerned about Nitish Kumar now; it is regrettable that he is speaking in such a tone. You were part of Lalu ji’s team, once referred to as Lalu ji’s man. Yesterday, Tejashwi Yadav offered a thoughtful analysis of history, addressed current challenges, and outlined future possibilities using logic,” Jha stated. “You (Nitish Kumar) failed to respond. If you believe you are the creator of the universe, the Brahma, and such thoughts are crossing your mind, then I am even more apprehensive for you,” he remarked.
Earlier, a heated exchange occurred between Nitish and Tejashwi during the ongoing budget session in the assembly. As Kumar delivered his address, Tejashwi interrupted him, prompting Nitish to respond, “What existed in Bihar before? I made your (Tejashwi Yadav’s) father what he became. Even individuals from your community questioned my support for him.”
“We arrived here on November 24, 2005. I want to emphasize the conditions at that time. People would not venture out in the evening. Roads were nonexistent. I was a minister at the Centre, and we had to traverse on foot. Society was rife with conflicts,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the BJP endorsed the claims made by Bihar’s Chief Minister, asserting that he played a crucial role in Lalu Yadav’s rise to Chief Minister and Tejashwi Yadav’s ascent to Deputy Chief Minister. “What Nitish Kumar ji stated is correct. He was instrumental in bringing Lalu Yadav to the position of Chief Minister and Tejashwi Yadav as Deputy Chief Minister. Nitish Kumar ji has held a mirror to the RJD,” BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain stated. “In this forthcoming election, we will contest under Nitish Kumar’s leadership and secure victory… Regardless of what Tejashwi Yadav claims, Nitish Kumar will triumph in 2025,” he added.
