Nitish Kumar Responds To Lalu Yadav’s “Doors Open” Remark

Patna: A day after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad caused a stir by claiming “doors were always open for Nitish Kumar,” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar downplayed the issue on Saturday, adding he “maintained good relations with allies and opponents.”
The JD(U) chairman was responding to inquiries from journalists on Mr Prasad’s statement, with whom he was seen shaking hands and chatting pleasantries inside the assembly building on Thursday.

“I keep strong contact with friends and opposition party leaders. I shake hands with them anytime I see them. “That is all,” Mr Kumar remarked.

The CM stated, “I don’t think about who says what… Things weren’t going well, so I left them (RJD).

Lalu Prasad remarked on Friday that “doors are always open” for Nitish Kumar, who left the grand coalition days earlier.

When asked if he would give Nitish Kumar another chance in the future, Lalu replied, “Ab aayenge toh dekhenge.” “The doors are always open.

When asked about cabinet expansion, Mr Kumar replied, “Ho Jayega” (it will be done). Sab Theek Chal Raha Hai (Things are going well)”.

On Saturday, NDA sources said Nitish Kumar’s cabinet would be expanded in two to three days to include members from other castes, minorities, and women.

The cabinet is expected to include BJP leaders Shahnawaz Hussain, Nitin Nabin, Rampreet Paswan, Janak Ram, and Shreyashi Singh, as well as JD (U) leaders Sunil Kumar Singh, Madan Sahni, Lesi Singh, Sheila Mandal, Jayant Raj, and Ashok Choudhary, according to a senior JD(U) leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Responding to questions about the state government’s recent order to review all decisions made by departments led by former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav and two RJD ministers Lalit Yadav and Ramanand Yadav, the CM stated, “Irregularities (Gadbadiyaan) have occurred… we will not tolerate this. Things are under investigation. I will continue to work on development projects to benefit the state’s overall growth.

In a letter dated February 16, issued by the cabinet secretariat department headed by the CM, officials from the health, road construction, urban development and housing, and rural works departments were asked to review decisions made during the state’s previous grand alliance government. Tejashwi Yadav led these departments.

Furthermore, the government has requested top officials from the public health engineering department (PHED) and the mines and geology department to review decisions made by former RJD ministers Lalit Yadav and Ramanand Yadav during the previous government.

Mr Kumar also agreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s estimate that the BJP-led alliance will win more than 400 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections.

“Yes, the BJP will win more Lok Sabha seats this time than it did in the 2019 elections. Mujhe Pura Bharosa Hai (I am completely confident).

 

Listen to the latest songs only on JioSaavn.com.
Regarding purported splits in the opposition INDIA alliance, Mr Kumar stated, “They (leaders of INDIA bloc) were not doing anything, which is why the cracks are growing. The alliance’s name (INDIA) was not my choice. They decided on their own. I now have nothing to do with them. I’m back here (NDA). Now I’m not concerned about what they’re saying.”

Post a comment.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and is sourced from a syndicated feed.)

 

ALSO READ :‘Even Foreign Leaders Know Aayega Toh…’: PM Modi Ends BJP Meet with ‘Confidence’ Speech | 5 Takeaways