Big jolt to Lalu's RJD ahead of Bihar polls as Raghuvansh Prasad Singh resigns from party

In ar big jolt to Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD ahead of Bihar elections, senior party leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has resigned from party. Ailing Raghuvansh Prasad is currently admitted at AIIMS Delhi, and had been vocal about lack of leadership in RJD in absence of Lalu. He has tendered his resignation and said that "he has been with party since demise of Karpuri Thakur but w he is quitting." He thanked party workers for ir love and support and added that y should 'forgive him for he is leaving party w'. 

This comes days after Raghuvansh Prasad opposed induction of muscleman and former LJP MP Rama Singh into party. He was n criticised by Lalu's son Tej Pratap Yadav. As poll season in Bihar is set to arrive in midst of floods and COVID-19 pandemic, Tej Pratap Yadav was reprimanded by his far Lalu, and was told to avoid making remarks on senior party leaders. 

READ | Tej Pratap meets Lalu; calls Raghuvansh Prasad his 'chacha' after far's scolding

Tej Pratap vs Raghuvansh Prasad Singh

Tej Pratap Yadav had earlier made castigating remarks against former union minister Singh, over his resignation from RJD's vice president post. Tej Pratap Yadav had said: "RJD is an ocean and Singh is like a mug of water of it whose coming/going will have impact on party." However, after meeting Lalu, Tej Pratap retracted from his comments and described Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who was one of key confidants of Lalu in wee days of RJD, as 'chacha' against whom he bore ill-feeling. Tej Pratap also faces trouble as sources hinted that his estranged wife Aishwarya Rai (daughter of Chandrika Rai) might enter poll fray from his current seat - Mahua constituency.

Previously, RJD suffered a major blow after Lalu's long time friend and samdhi (Tej Pratap's far-in-law) Chandrika Rai along with 5 ors quit party. Moreover, Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM(S) pulled out of Mahagathbandhan and rejoined NDA. assembly polls this year is crucial for RJD as it drew blank in Lok Sabha polls. It is also significant because this is first assembly elections in Bihar which will t witness quintessential Lalu style of campaigning and his crowd-puller jibes.

READ | Bihar polls: Tej Pratap Yadav kicks off election campaign with massive rally in Hasanpur

Tej Pratap's new seat Hasanpur?

Kickstarting his poll campaign, RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav held a massive rally in Bihar's Hasanpur Vishan Sabha constituency, completely flouting guidelines of social distancing amid COVID-19 pandemic. Sources have said that Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap is likely to contest from Hasanpur constituency amid speculations that his estranged wife Aishwarya Rai would contest from his current Mahua seat.  In video, Tej Pratap's followers can be seen behind his car, capturing his video and following his cavalcade while RJD leader waved at m.

READ | Before Bihar elections, Digvijaya Singh goads Paswans to join Congress amid LJP-JDU tussle

Bihar Elections 2020

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Bihar is all set to go to polls for a 243-member assembly seat in October-vember.  Election Commission has issued directives to conduct election amid COVID, however, dates are yet to be anunced. In 2015 assembly polls, CM Nitish Kumar's JDU, n a part of Mahagathbandhan won 71 seats, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD won 80 seats, and Congress won 27 seats. BJP which fought elections alone after Kumar in 2013 broke 17-year-old alliance won a mere 53 seats out of 157 contested. However, saffron party came back to power when Kumar ditched Mahagathbandhan and once again stitched an alliance with BJP.

READ | Nitish's JDU & Paswan's LJP's war-of-words escalates before Bihar polls; BJP tight-lipped