Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav on Saturday met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi and discussed measures to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan on road to the 2019 elections.
Yadav - a former union minister who quit the Janata Dal in 2017 in retaliation to the party’s decision of uniting with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar- spent at least one and a half hours with Prasad at the State-run hospital in Ranchi on Saturday. The Janata Dal (United) had joined hands with the BJP in Bihar in 2017 citing “irreconcilable differences” with former ally RJD on the issue of corruption charges against Prasad in a multimillion fodder scam case.
After the meeting on Saturday, Yadav came down heavily on the ruling NDA government at the Centre and flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly doing politics over army and communalism.
“The Modi and Amit Shah duo has brought the country in a State of devastation. GST, demonetization and many other decisions of the NDA government have wreaked havoc on the country,” he said. Yadav also questioned the security lapses that led to the Pulwama attack in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The question that arises is how the terrorists entered the area with such huge amount of explosives. Why is it that the intelligence machinery, which is strongest in Jammu & Kashmir, could not intercept the attack plans?” he asked.
Yadav’s meeting with the RJD chief assumes significance since Lalu is expected to play the role of a fulcrum for the Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress party and the RJD have already decided to contest the elections united in 2019. Yadav’s political acumen is likely to offer a fillip to the opposition alliance here.
The RJD chief, who suffers from several heart, kidney and blood pressure related ailments, is not eligible to contest elections but is still a force to reckon with in Bihar and Jharkhand. Recently, former BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha met him in hospital. Meanwhile, local JMM and Congress leaders have been frequenting RIMS for political discussions with Prasad. He, however, is allowed to meet only three visitors in a week.
Lalu is presently serving prison term after being convicted an d sentenced in several fodder scam cases.