Political situation tailor made for Nitish

Sachchidanand Jha

Patna : The CBI raids at RJD Chief Lalu Prasad’s premises at Patna on July 7 and ED search at the three farm houses in Delhi allegedly belonging to his daughter and Rajya Sabha Member Dr Misa Bharti on July 8, 2017, appears to have unsettled the major Grand Alliance partner in Bihar, the RJD. The JD(U) has maintained a studied silence over these raids. Does it indicate the lull before the storm?

The CBI had on July 5, 2017, registered a case u/s 120 B r/w 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act, 1988 against the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, his wife and former CM Rabri Devi and their younger son and Bihar Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav, a private person based in New Delhi, two Directors of a private Hotel Ltd. Company, a private Projects/Marketing company based in Delhi, the then MD, IRCTC, and unknown others on the allegations of awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels at Ranchi and Puri to the said private Hotel Ltd. Company in 2006. It had conducted raids at 12 locations including Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, Puri and Gurugram on July 7.

The BJP has demanded sacking of Tejaswi Yadav from Nitish cabinet. The short Monnsoon session of both the Houses state legislature will begin from July 28 and continue till August 3, 2017. It is likely to be stormy as the NDA is likely to mount pressure on CM Nitish Kumar to drop tainted ministers. Nitish’s silence over the recent developments has increased uneasiness in the RJD camp. The RJD is the major partner in the Grand Alliance but the recent  move of the IT, CBI and ED against Lalu and his kin have put the party on the back foot. It is hardly in a position to antagonise Nitish.

But, Nitish, who has often declared `zero tolerance’ against corruption, would like the RJD chief to fire the first salvo. But, the RJD is unlikely to precipitate crisis in the Grand Alliance as Lalu’s legal problems have increased considerably in recent months. Lalu is already facing trial in few more fodder scam cases. The political situation suits Nitish as a beleaguered Lalu will always be easier to handle.