The list of high-profile dropouts from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s first election rally in Bihar, to be held in West Champaran on Saturday, grew longer with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also pulling out. Instead, K.C. Tyagi, Rajya Sabha member from the Janata Dal(U), will take his place.
Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad had said that he would be unavailable for the rally. The pullout appears to be an indication that the Mahagathbandhan , or “grand alliance”, of the three parties has underlying tensions as they contest the elections together in Bihar.
The JD(U), however, said the pullout was not to be seen as a negative move. “This is not a negative thing as I shall be representing the party, and Tejaswi (Mr. Prasad’s son) would be attending as well. We want the whole focus to be on Mr. Rahul Gandhi as this is his rally,” Mr. Tyagi said.
JD(U) cites meeting
Mr. Tyagi said on Thursday that Mr. Kumar and Mr. Prasad could not participate in Mr.Gandhi’s election rally in Bihar on Saturday as they would be in discussion to finalise candidates for the second phase of elections to be held on October 16.
“It is a complicated seat distribution and both leaders cannot be spared,” he said. Relations between Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Lalu Prasad are already strained, according to sources because of the Congress leader’s backing of Mr. Kumar as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate.
