The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on wednesday ruled out the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav even as it made it clear that it won't rock the alliance boat with the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) in Bihar.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad told reporters after a party meeting: "The Parliamentary Party has decided that there is no question of resignation. Even, (Chief Minister) Nitish (Kumar) hasn't demanded Tejashwi's resignation."
He said the 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) was formed after going through a lot of problems.
"The BJP has an eye on our alliance. I can understand everything. Mahagathbandhan's leader is Nitish Kumar. I won't tolerate anyone being disrespectful towards him."
Tejashwi Yadav, whose resignation is being demanded by the BJP after a CBI filed a case of corruption against him, said that charges of corruption against him levelled by the CBI and ED were baseless. He accused the BJP of trying to derail the alliance.
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"From our side, RJD, we have made it very clear that the alliance won't be affected. We consider Nitishji as our CM. In matters of governance, we have never interfered with the decisions taken by Nitishji and his functioning of the government," he said.
"I can only say this that I have not been asked to resign."
Meanwhile, Shivanand Tiwari, a former JD-U leader now with the RJD, slammed the Chief Minsiter for not talking to the RJD to sort out the issues.
"I know Nitish Kumar for the past 40 years. I know how 'pure' he is. We have asked him with folded hands how you will run the alliance if you don't talk to each other. If there are any differences, then it can be solved only through dialogue. There is no other way. But I was pained by the fact that Nitish Kumarji did not pay attention to us," said Tiwari.
--IANS
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