BJP to ‘take to streets’ if Nitish does not drop deputy CM Tejashwi from cabinet

PATNA The BJP leadership announced here on Monday that it would “take to the streets”, if chief minister Nitish Kumar failed to either obtain the resignation of deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, in the wake of the CBI filing an FIR against him in a corruption case, or drop him from the council of ministers. 

BJP insiders told HT the state party leadership would chalk out a detailed strategy on the issue after knowing the outcome of chief minister’s meeting with JD(U) leaders and legislators on Tuesday. 

“If Nitish Kumar fails to drop Yadav from his cabinet, the BJP would go to people to expose the CM, who had earlier announced that there would be zero tolerance of corruption in his government,” said senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

“Now, Kumar has to decide whether he wants to side with corruption, or morality,” he added. 

Modi said now that an FIR has been lodged by the CBI against the deputy CM on corruption charges, the chief minister should break his silence on the matter and announce his decision. “People of Bihar are also waiting for his pronouncement on this matter,” he said. 

On senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav’s statement that the central agencies’ actions against RJD president Lalu Prasad and his family were a ploy to break the Grand Alliance, Modi reminded him that he, along with others, had submitted a memorandum in 2008 to the then PM Manmohan Singh, demanding action on this very issue. 

The JD(U) leaders had accused Prasad of favouring a private party in lieu of three acres of land in Patna being transferred to the Delight Company, which later came to Lalu’s family, he said, adding, “Now, Sharad Yadav is attacking the central agencies for taking action against the RJD president on the same issue.” 

Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai said the people of Bihar wanted to know from the chief minister as to how much time he would need to remove brothersTejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, against whom serious charges of corruption have been levelled, from his cabinet.

“If he fails to do so, the BJP would have no alternative but to go to the public to expose the CM,” he said. 

Asked when would the party launch the statewide agitation on the issue, Rai said, “We are waiting for the CM to break his silence. In a day or so, we will decide on our move.” 

Reacting to the decision of the RJD legislature party that it would not seek resignation from Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, senior BJP leader and former president of the party Mangal Pandey said, “We did not expect otherwise from the RJD.” 

“Now we are waiting to hear from the CM. Then we will be free to take our course. We will take to the streets in support of our demand,” said Pandey. 

QUOTE

If Nitish Kumar fails to drop Yadav from his cabinet, the BJP would go to people to expose the CM, who had earlier announced that there would be zero tolerance of corruption in his government.

— Sushil Kumar Modi, senior BJP leader