Tej Pratap Yadav turns up at BJP feast, sparks buzz about NDA entry
Lalu Prasad's estranged elder son says, 'We may have different political ideologies, but we share the same cultural ethos'
The estranged elder son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, Tej Pratap Yadav, joined a feast organised by senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, sparking rumours of a possible alliance.
Yadav, a former minister who has floated his own outfit, Janshakti Janata Dal, following expulsion from the RJD, received a warm welcome from Sinha. He had met Sinha a few days ago to invite him to a feast he will be hosting on Wednesday (January 14) on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
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Sinha hosted the feast on the eve of the festival, which was attended by a host of senior NDA leaders, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, fellow Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha and minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Santosh Kumar Suman.
Silent on joining NDA
When Yadav, who lost his seat in the recently held assembly polls, was asked by journalists whether he had any plans to join the NDA, he said: “We may have different political ideologies, but we share the same cultural ethos. As regards other things, you will get to know about it in due course”.
Sinha replied in a similar vein, saying “all Biharis stand united, drawing positive energy from the Sanatan culture, which Makar Sankranti is an epitome of”.
Faced with further queries about the possible entry of Yadav into the BJP-led coalition, he said, “As you have already been told, you will get to know when the time comes.”
The BJP leader did not reply to another question as to whether Yadav’s younger brother Tejashwi, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, was expected at the feast.
(With agency inputs)