JD(U), RJD engage in ‘picture war’

Tejaswi Yadav addresses a press conference with in Patna on Friday.

Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) on Friday released a picture of Opposition leader and former deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav with a girl and a bottle of liquor in the background, leading to a mudslinging match between the rival parties.

This is apparently in retaliation for the picture released by Mr. Tejaswai on Wednesday of an accused in a hooch tragedy sitting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in his official residence.

“You all can see the so-called Bihar youth icon and former deputy CM’s photograph. We wonder about this colour of Tejaswi Yadav... is this the

sanskar (values) he has imbibed from his father Lalu Prasad?”asked all three JD(U) spokespersons Sanjay Sigh, Neeraj Kumar and Nikhil Mandal, while addressing media persons at the party’s office in Patna.

In a quick reaction, Mr. Tejaswi admitted that he did not know the girl although he was in the picture. “The picture was taken when I was not into politics and playing IPL matches in Delhi. Perhaps it was at a party thrown during an IPL match. Can anyone say what is objectionable about the picture? Is this not a character assassination of a girl,” he asked, addressing media persons.

Some RJD leaders told The Hindu that the photograph was taken in 2010 and had gone viral on social media earlier. “In fact, it all has come out from the JD(U) in reaction to our expose on Nitish Kumar’s the carefully cultivated image... we released the photograph of him sitting with a hooch tragedy accused in his drawing room in dry Bihar,” Mr. Tejaswi charged.

Case file

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said at a public function that he was unaware of the background of hooch tragedy accused. His party leader Rakesh Singh had visited his residence along with a retired school principal from Bhojpur, Mr. Kumar said. JD(U) later expelled Mr. Singh from the party.