Bypolls won't impact grand alliance; doors closed for Nitish: Tejashwi

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said that the elections in the State will not have any impact on the health of the secular coalition, amid the disagreements over seat-sharing within the Bihar grand alliance constituents for the upcoming by-polls. Yadav has attacked Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar saying that he helped the RSS and BJP grow and jeopardised secular and socialist politics.

'Chameleon-like character'

Commenting on the possibility of Nitish Kumar returning to the grand alliance ahead of the Assembly polls next year, Yadav said that secularism and socialism is a life-long commitment to inclusive politics and Kumar had given it up forever. "He (Kumar) did not simply betray us but also the core principles on which secular-socialist politics stands. It is not us alone but also people believing in progressive politics who are unwilling to accommodate a chameleon-like character," he said.

'Mahagathbandhan'

Speaking about the disagreements over seat-sharing among grand alliance constituents, Yadav said, "Let us understand this in perspective. These by-polls are for only five assembly segments and the age of this assembly is hardly ten more months."

The disagreements among grand alliance constituents came to the fore when Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) fielded its candidate against the RJD in Nathnagar, while Vikassheel Insan Party led by Mukesh Sahni named its candidate for the Simri Bakhtiarpur seat. Yadav said that alliance partners such as HAM and VIP are innate to "our greater efforts and these by-polls shall not have any impact on the health of our alliance."

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Earlier, the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar seems to be in trouble as it witnesses an internal rift. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) have fielded their respective candidates in all the five assembly constituencies that will go to by-polls on October 21. The Mahagathbandhan in Bihar was touted to take on the NDA alliance in the State. However, reports of trouble have paved the way for the alliance. 

READ | Tejashwi Yadav Slams Nitish Kumar's Comments On Bihar Floods

Tejashwi slams Nitish government

Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav has attacked the Bihar state government over the flood situation in Patna. He said that it is shameful that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called the current situation a mere natural disaster. Furthermore, he accused the government officials of infighting.

Yadav, while pointing out that there is no one for the public, said, "Chief Minister's remark that this is a mere natural disaster is shameful. The concerned government officials are nowhere to be seen. The entire system has failed and the 'double-engine' state government is fighting within like animals.”

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READ | Tejashwi Yadav Slams Bihar Government Over 'Bihar's Suffering'

(With PTI inputs)