PATNA: Ahead of RJD’s national convention in Delhi from Sunday that is expected to elect a new president, party patriarch Lalu Prasad has the onerous task of playing peacemaker amid reports that his loyal friend and prominent upper caste face Jagadanand Singh is annoyed with his younger son and Bihar deputy CM Yadav firing orders from his father’s shoulders.
Although Lalu remains the official president, Tejashwi has been issuing “diktats” to ensure the Grand Alliance government headed by CM Nitish Kumar functions smoothly and they work in coordination to defeat BJP in the 2024 LS polls.
Tejashwi’s move has reportedly gone badly with RJD’s state unit chief Jagadanand, who has been loyal to the party since its founding in 1997. Sources said Jagadanand was hurt by two recent actions. Tejashwi asked party functionaries to refrain from making remarks about Nitish and then conveyed him through his father to remove Jagadanand’s son Sudhakar Singh. It was in the light of his message that Sudhakar resigned last week.
Jagadanand reportedly felt let down as he had strongly batted for Lalu’s son as the CM of Bihar “as early as 2023”, a statement that displeased Nitish’s JD(U). Tejashwi had to issue a “clarification” that he’s neither in a hurry nor harbour any desire to be CM.
Sudhakar refused comments over his father’s “annoyance”, saying he has no grievances against the party. RJD’s state spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan claimed “rumours” were floating about Jagadanand being angry. But that doesn’t take away Lalu’s dilemma. He has to calm down Jagadanand, widely perceived to be his “friend, philosopher and guide” who remained with him through thick and thin.
Although Lalu remains the official president, Tejashwi has been issuing “diktats” to ensure the Grand Alliance government headed by CM Nitish Kumar functions smoothly and they work in coordination to defeat BJP in the 2024 LS polls.
Tejashwi’s move has reportedly gone badly with RJD’s state unit chief Jagadanand, who has been loyal to the party since its founding in 1997. Sources said Jagadanand was hurt by two recent actions. Tejashwi asked party functionaries to refrain from making remarks about Nitish and then conveyed him through his father to remove Jagadanand’s son Sudhakar Singh. It was in the light of his message that Sudhakar resigned last week.
Jagadanand reportedly felt let down as he had strongly batted for Lalu’s son as the CM of Bihar “as early as 2023”, a statement that displeased Nitish’s JD(U). Tejashwi had to issue a “clarification” that he’s neither in a hurry nor harbour any desire to be CM.
Sudhakar refused comments over his father’s “annoyance”, saying he has no grievances against the party. RJD’s state spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan claimed “rumours” were floating about Jagadanand being angry. But that doesn’t take away Lalu’s dilemma. He has to calm down Jagadanand, widely perceived to be his “friend, philosopher and guide” who remained with him through thick and thin.
