An all-party meet was organised on the eve of the monsoon session, where Prime Ministerr Narendra Modi addresed all the parties and urged them to run the business during the session smmothly in both the houses. He also discussed about various issues raised by different opposition parties. However, JD(U) skipped the meeting giving no reason for its absence.
In his statement to ET Senior JDU leader, KC Tyagi said that JDU stayed away from the all party meet but it was not a boycott and this should not be taken in any other sense. He added that JDU also kept away from the Opposition meeting that was addressed by its presidential candidate Meira Kumar and VP choice Gopal Krishna Gandhi. A party insider said that there was some mix-up on the parties side to skip these meetings, instead, Party leader Sharad Yadav instead went to meet Gandhi.
Talking about the alliance in Bihar, Tyagi said that JDU and RJD relations is facing some tough time but it has not come to the point of break up yet. He stressed that the mahagathbandhan is intact and the alliance would continue. Though Lalu would have to put in some extra efforts to clear all the mess created after the recent CBI raids on him and his family member, and his son Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav connected to the case.
Tyagi also said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked Tejashwi Yadav to meet him and clear his grounds regarding the raids. He questioned that, when did the CM ask for a resignation from Deputy CM, CM only said that a person holding a public office should maintain high standards. He further added that even if Tejashwi has to resign, he does not think that RJD will pull out from the alliance, putting an end to the party. He also emphasised on the point that Congress is also well aware of the situation that if the alliance breaks in Bihar and JDU joins hands with BJP during the General elections in 2019, Congress will also be wiped out of Bihar. So the pressure is now on RJD and Congress keep the mahagahthbandhan intact he said.
“We will be with the united opposition in this monsoon session, be it on the issue of farmers’ interest, lynchings in various parts of the country, the encroachments on our territory by China, the situation in Kashmir or the misuse of office by governors,” Tyagi added.
In regard to the Presidential election, He said that JDU has directed its MPs and MLAs to vote for NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind.