At a time when keeping the flock together remains the most pertinent question for political parties in Bihar, as the newly inducted NDA government is set to undergo floor test in the Budget Session on Monday, yet another war of words has erupted between the ruling NDA and Mahagathbandhan.
Political maneuvering became visible with clear optics as informal, yet critical get-togethers were organised in ruling and Opposition camps almost back to back.
To start with, the lunch for JDU legislators at the residence of minister Shrawan Kumar saw several legislators missing. Interestingly, even Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not spend much time there.
Second was the one at Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s official residence, where RJD legislators were later joined by their CPIML colleagues. Later, the support staff of the legislators were spotted sending clothes and other essentials inside, saying their respective bosses demanded them to do so.
In a statement, clarifying the RJD legislators’ ‘stay-over’ at Tejashwi’s residence, MP Manoj Jha said the legislators had decided to spend the next 48 hours together. He also said the RJD MLAs were playing ‘antaakshari’ inside.
Later, a video that emerged from Tejashwi’s residence triggered yet another volley of potshots between the incumbent NDA and the Opposition! While the RJD claimed that the Mahagathbandhan was intact and the legislators were enjoying their time together, the BJP claimed that the RJD, fearing a defection, had ‘kidnapped’ its MLAs.
“These kidnapped MLAs are forced to put up a smiling face for Tejashwi’s PR activities and are further pushed to sing songs,” BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna alleged.
“The song ‘Na chhedo humein hum sataye hue hain…’ actually depicts the pain and grief of honourable RJD MLAs,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras claimed that the deal was already through due to which the RJD leadership was forced to hold its MLAs in Patna.
They have been held captive at Tejashwi’s residence as they’re afraid of the ‘Khela’ themselves, claimed Paras.
Predicting an imminent mutiny within the RJD’s ranks, JDU MP Sunil Kumar Pintu claimed that Tejashwi’s decision to keep his legislators at his residence shows that the party is wary of its MLAs.
He further claimed that the RJD would find it difficult to meet their own numbers, let alone the magic figure.