Patna: LALU Prasad Yadav in Patna, and a few hours later, Nitish Kumar in New Delhi re-asserted on Thursday that all was well with the Mahagadbandhan in Bihar, but top sources told CNN-News18 that the grand coalition is now on a shaky wicket and it’s not just about Mohammed Shahabuddin.
Nitish Kumar is furious about recurring statements issued by RJD vice-president and Lalu confidante Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, which he suspects were aimed at denigrating his stature.
"The chief minister is unhappy with comments challenging his authority from senior RJD ministers, especially leaders like Raghuvansh Prasad Singh," a top JDU leader told CNN-News18 on condition of anonymity.
On Thursday, Singh while making a larger political point had wondered how an RJD worker can accept Nitish as his leader.
A few days ago, Singh had taken another swipe at Nitish saying he was not happy with the coalition’s decision to make him the chief minister.
"Lalu Prasad is our leader and we wanted him to be chief minister. When the grand alliance was formed, then its leaders decided that Nitish Kumar would be their leader. I did not agree with it but obeyed," he had said.
The JDU-RJD combine that rules Bihar had come under fire on Sunday after the don-turned-politician and RJD leader Shahabuddin was released on bail after a decade in prison on a battery of charges. Opposition BJP had alleged that the don’s release proved its fears that Jungle Raj would return to the state under the Nitish dispensation with Lalu as his main partner.
Earlier in the day, speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Lalu had clarified that Nitish Kumar was very much the leader of the Mahagadbandhan. "BJP wants to create confusion between us. I will sort out all the confusion with Nitish," Lalu said, asserting that the understanding between RJD and JDU were intact.
The RJD strongman accused a section of media of blowing up the Shahabuddin issue for "BJP's benefit".
In New Delhi, Nitish refused to answer pointed questions by mediapersons on Shahabuddin saying the law will take its own course.
Also read: Nitish Kumar is the Leader, No Confusion Between Us: Lalu Yadav
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