Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday challenged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to contest the state assembly elections against former chief minister Rabri Devi, who is contesting from two constituencies.
Janata Dal-United supremo Nitish Kumar is set to be sworn-in as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time on Thursday, days after the National Democratic Alliance secured a landslide victory in the assembly elections.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad on Thursday hit back at Nitin Gadkari for his derogatory remarks against him and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party president has gone 'mentally bankrupt'. "We will first try to give Gadkari tablets to cure his mental bankruptcy, then put him on capsules and if the tablets and capsules fail, we will put him on injection," Prasad told a press conference in Patna.
Narayan has been charged with flouting quota norms and other government rules in allocating 12 PDS shops in 1996 and 17 in 1997 when Lalu was Bihar chief minister.
With top BJP leaders declaring Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi fit for prime minister's post, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad on Monday asked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to clarify his stand on the issue.
Two individuals claiming to be members of the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) in Bihar announced their "resignation" from the party, citing dissatisfaction with its support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The JD(U) denied the resignations, claiming the individuals were not party members. However, some senior JD(U) leaders have expressed discontent over the passage of the bill, which they believe is detrimental to Muslims. The controversy over the Waqf Bill is likely to influence the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar.
Contrary to repots about former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi giving up politics, the wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad has decided to contest the state assembly elections from not one but two constituencies -- Raghopur and Sonepur.Two months ago, it was widely reported that Rabri Devi may bid adieu to active politics after her husband Lalu Prasad declared himself the RJD's chief ministerial candidate for the assembly polls.
Former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday appeared before a special Central Bureau of Investigation court, which recorded his statement in connection with a fodder scam case. The court of Pravas Kumar Singh recorded the statements in the case pertaining to alleged fraudulent withdrawal of nearly Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa treasury between 1992 and 1995. Lalu faces charges in six fodder cases -- five in Ranchi and one in Patna.
Foot-in-the-mouth seems to be a common syndrome afflicting many politicians who find it too tough to be politically correct all the time.
SSP, Patna, Kundan Krishnan's revelation on Wednesday that a criminal gang, enjoying patronage of a BJP MLA in UP, was in possession of the child has sparked off a blamegame.
Shah pulled no punches in lambasting the RJD supremo for alleged nepotism, accusing him of making his wife the chief minister, getting his daughter elected to Parliament and "now both his sons want to become the CM".
"Just because Modi enjoys the patronage of senior BJP leader L K Advani, the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, the latter cannot escape culpability for the mass murder," Lalu said.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, which had suffered decimation in the last general elections, was leading in five seats, out of 23 where it had fielded candidates.
Bihar leaders oppose Delimitation Commission proposal.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi may have to vacate their official sprawling bungalow in Pata following the party's humiliating defeat in the recent assembly elections in the state.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday claimed the support of 43 legislators in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly and asserted that the United Progressive Alliance will provide a stable government.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday termed his past alliances with arch rival Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal as a 'mistake' that he committed twice but was determined not to repeat again.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani was not amused with some of the party MPs joining RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh to hold a mock Parliament session and reprimanded his colleague Gopinath Munde for participating in it.
Pappu Yadav has been asserting that he will contest the seat he had won thrice in the 1990s, with the claim of "assurances" from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
The new Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill and a related Constitution Amendment Bill to grant the proposed ombudsman a constitutional status were introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, withdrawing an earlier Lokpal Bill, after hours of wrangle and adjournment twice.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday night and sought his immediate intervention to get the Maharashtra government's decision -- on giving licence to those who are domicile of that state for the last 15 years -- rescinded."I spoke to the prime minister over telephone late on Thursday evening and requested him to get the Maharashtra cabinet decision rescinded as it is not good for the country's unity," said Lalu.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has criticised the Maharashtra government's recent decision to grant taxi permits to only those drivers who are well versed in Marathi and have resided in the state for at least 15 years. Most taxi drivers in Mumbai are migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.Lalu alleged that the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party combine was 'going the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's way".
Top political leaders of Bihar, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, on Monday strongly condemned the attack on Samajwadi Party Member of Legislative Assembly Abu Asim Azmi.Nitish Kumar condemned the incident and declared that it had again exposed the MNS' true colours "We will take the matter up with the Union government as well as the Maharashtra government."
Special CBI judge Munilal Paswan had on December 18 acquited Lalu and Rabri of all charges.
Water sprayers splashed with the images of Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad and his bete noire Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are selling like hot cakes in the state with Holi revellers wanting to add a dash of political colour to their celebrations.
"We would like to be a part of your wedding procession (baraat) said Prasad, evoking a shy smile from Gandhi and guffaws from others present on the occasion.
Optimistic over forming a new government in Jharkand, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is all set to stake a claim for government formation, with Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav vowing to install him as chief minister at all costs.Requiring a majority of 41 for the 81-member House, the JMM has 17 MLAs and guaranteed support of Congress, RJD and NCP.Four independents have pledged support to Soren and the JMM is lobbying to get the backing of at least 3 independents.
A Central Bureau of Investigation court in Patna on Wednesday ordered Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad to appear in the court on September 6, in connection with the multi crore fodder scam, court official said The court in its orders made it clear to Lalu Prasad to appear physically in the court, a court sources said.
Lalu was apparently referring to his wife Rabri Devi.
Toughening his stand over the Women's Reservation Bill, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad said on Saturday that he would not bow down to any pressure and continue fighting against the present form of the bill.
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad has said he would reward party tickets to only those who would show certificates for spending time in jails.
The Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar has withdrew security cover given to Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Bihar Congress leaders urged Sonia Gandhi and\n\nManmohan Singh not to provide him a ministerial berth as he faced serious corruption\n\ncharges in the fodder scam.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday snubbed the Rashtriya Janata Dal, headed by his arch-rival Lalu Prasad Yadav, stating that he had forged alliances 'by mistake' with the opposition party which 'did nothing' while in power.
The BJP and JD(U) will each contest on 101 seats in the Bihar assembly elections, while the LJP will field candidates on 29 seats. Other NDA partners will contest on fewer seats.