Ahead of Bihar's by-elections later this week, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav, after six years, addressed a public meeting in Tarapur as part of his party's electoral campaign on Wednesday, 27 October.
Thousands had gathered for the address, and some broke police barricades when Lalu Yadav's helicopter landed in Tarapur, provoking a stampede-like situation in the area.
The RJD leader, who has spent the last three years either in jail or recovering from illness, lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as Nitish Kumar, saying that Kumar became the chief minister "dishonestly."
Two constituency seats from Bihar – Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan – will go to polls on 30 October.
Referring to the elections as a fight between the 'common man' and the 'government', the leader went on to say that Kumar works by intimidating people.
"The youth who speak the truth and demand employment have been put in jail," he asserted.
Contesting both these seats is crucial for RJD, which will be up against Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and its former long-time ally Congress in the upcoming polls.
Yadav went on to censure BJP's government and said, "Everything was sold under the BJP's rule. Modi had said that he would give Rs 15 lakh to everyone, and everyone had opened an account."
RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also addressed the gathering in Tarapur and said, "Today the crowd gathered in Tarapur is challenging the false morality and conscience of respected Nitish Kumar."
After speculations of tensions between the RJD and Congress, a rift between the two parties came to the fore earlier this month after the RJD announced its candidates for Tarapur and Kusheshwar Asthan, the two constituencies from where Congress is also fielding its candidates.
Earlier this week, upon being asked about the RJD's alliance with Congress, Yadav retorted, "Kya hota hai Congress ka gathbandhan (of what use is an alliance with the Congress)," The Indian Express quoted.
Sonia Gandhi Reportedly Called Lalu Yadav
Meanwhile, Lalu Yadav said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi had called him on Tuesday ahead of the polls, reported ANI.
"I spoke to Sonia Gandhi. She asked me about my well-being & whereabouts. I said, I'm fine, your party is an all India party so get all like-minded people & parties together to form a strong alternative (to ruling party) & call a meeting of all people," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
However, Bihar Congress in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said that no conversation took place between Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Yadav.
"If talks had happened, then I would have been informed. There is no truth in it," he said, as per ANI.
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