RJD president Lalu Prasad on Thursday confidently asserted that the BJP-led NDA will face defeat in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, despite the momentum the saffron party has gained following its victory in Delhi.
Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, was responding to questions from journalists regarding the impact of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) ousting from power in Delhi, a development that has drawn attention within political circles.
Prasad, whose party holds the highest number of seats in Bihar’s 243-member assembly, dismissed any suggestion that the defeat of AAP in Delhi would affect the political landscape in Bihar.
He categorically stated, “There will be no impact here. The BJP will go.” The 75-year-old leader, known for his staunch secularist views and opposition to the BJP, reiterated that the party’s prospects in Bihar remain grim.
When journalists pointed out that leaders of the NDA, including Bihar’s current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), have expressed confidence in regaining power, Prasad was dismissive.
“As long as we are around in Bihar, they cannot form a government here,” Prasad declared. He further added, “The people have sized up the BJP. They will size up the NDA here as well.” Prasad’s bold statement reflects his confidence in the RJD’s position and influence in Bihar’s political scene.
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In response, senior BJP leader and Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha sharply criticized Prasad’s assertion. “Lalu ji may or may not be around, but the NDA’s return to power is certain,” Sinha remarked. He also took a jab at Prasad’s legacy, stating, “The people do not need Lalu ji to be around.
His reign was marked by rampant casteism and misrule, which had brought a bad name to the state and the word 'Bihari' had become a sort of slur.” Sinha’s comments underscored the BJP’s belief that the electorate will not be swayed by Prasad’s rhetoric.
JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar also weighed in on Prasad’s statement, asserting that the NDA's success in Bihar with Prasad around was a testament to the coalition’s strength. “Lalu ji should remember that the NDA achieved power in Bihar with him around, and it will continue to do so again with him around,” Kumar said.
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He further criticised Prasad’s leadership, suggesting that the NDA has set a target of 225 seats, a goal that surpasses its performance in 2010 when the RJD was severely weakened.
“Lalu ji should worry for himself. He is old enough to retire from public life. His son and heir apparent, Tejashwi Yadav, does not listen to him,” Kumar claimed, adding that the RJD’s future hinges on the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav.
Interestingly, JD(U) has had two short-lived alliances with the RJD over the past decade, which allowed Tejashwi Yadav, now the leader of the opposition, to serve as the deputy chief minister during those coalitions. However, these alliances ultimately did not last, and tensions between the two parties have persisted in recent years.
As the political temperature rises in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, the war of words between the RJD and NDA leaders seems set to intensify, with both sides confident of their respective prospects. The outcome of the elections, scheduled for later this year, will likely hinge on the shifting political dynamics within the state.
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