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.ย
Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, was responding to questions from journalists regarding the impact of the Aam Aadmi Partyโs (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 Biharโs 243-member assembly, dismissed any suggestion that the defeat of AAP in Delhi would affect the political landscape in Bihar.ย
He categorically stated, โThere will be no impact here. The BJP will go.โ The 75-year-old leader, known for his staunch secularist views and opposition to the BJP, reiterated that the partyโs prospects in Bihar remain grim.
When journalists pointed out that leaders of the NDA, including Biharโs current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), have expressed confidence in regaining power, Prasad was dismissive.ย
ย
โAs long as we are around in Bihar, they cannot form a government here,โ Prasad declared. He further added, โThe people have sized up the BJP. They will size up the NDA here as well.โ Prasadโs bold statement reflects his confidence in the RJDโs position and influence in Biharโs political scene.
ย
Also Read: Police, administration partisan in Bihar: Tejashwi to Guv
In response, senior BJP leader and Biharโs Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha sharply criticized Prasadโs assertion. โLalu ji may or may not be around, but the NDAโs return to power is certain,โ Sinha remarked. He also took a jab at Prasadโs legacy, stating, โThe people do not need Lalu ji to be around.ย
ย
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.โ Sinhaโs comments underscored the BJPโs belief that the electorate will not be swayed by Prasadโs rhetoric.
ย
JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar also weighed in on Prasadโs statement, asserting that the NDA’s success in Bihar with Prasad around was a testament to the coalitionโs strength. โLalu ji should remember that the NDA achieved power in Bihar with him around, and it will continue to do so again with him around,โ Kumar said.ย
ย
Also Read: BJP’s Delhi win turns attention to Bihar elections
ย
He further criticised Prasadโs 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.
ย
ย โLalu 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,โ Kumar claimed, adding that the RJDโs 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.
ย
Also Read: Delhi polls wonโt affect Bihar elections: Tejashwi