Nitish to Tejashwi: It will happen says RJD MLA

RJD MLA claims Nitish Kumar to handover Chief minister’s post to Tejashwi Yadav

NEW DELHI | Updated: 22 February, 2023 2:37 am IST

Bihar Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Will he or will he not? Speculations are rife about whether Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar will finally part with the chair he holds so dear.

Amid all the talks, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Vijay Kumar Mandal claimed that an understanding was reached between ruling allies RJD and Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU) to trade the Chief ministerial posts.

Mandal has claimed that his leader, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, will take over as Chief Minister. He also said that a power change will take place in the coming months of March-April.

“I had full faith in Bihar CM Nitish Kumar when he said that the next election would be fought under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav,” Mandal said.

“Although 2025 (Bihar state elections) are still far away, I’m certain that Tejashwi will lead Bihar as Chief minister in this coming month of March itself,” he added.

The Dinara MLA also stated that CM Kumar should now aim to become the nation’s prime minister.

“After the month of Falgun (Hindu calendar), Tejashwi Yadav will become the chief minister of Bihar. I am sure Nitish will give his support,” Mandal said.

“We would want Nitish Kumar to take charge of the nation’s leadership and become the Prime minister,” he added.

Mandal said that the people of Bihar support Yadav taking charge of the Bihar government. He said, “Tejashwi Yadav is the voice of the people of Bihar. “Everyone, including villagers, youth, farmers, and minorities standing in support of Tejashwi Yadav.”

The tug of war between the two allies, the RJD and the JD(U), has been going on for quite some time. On Monday, February 20, JD(U) national president Lalan Singh said that it is uncertain whether Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial candidate in the 2025 assembly polls.

Sources said that several RJD leaders expressed their displeasure over Lalan Singh’s statement. The aforementioned statement of RJD MLA Mandal raises eyebrows.

Meanwhile, estranged JD(U) leader Upendra Kushwaha resigned from the party on Monday, alleging that Nitish Kumar struck a secret deal to make Tejashwi Yadav the next Chief Minister of Bihar.

In his address, Kushwaha said that he will not allow ‘Jungle Raj’ to return to Bihar by making Tejashwi the Chief Minister. JDU has dismissed Kushwaha’s claims of a secret deal.