Patna: Ahead of Bihar assembly election, chief minister Nitish Kumar`s JD (U) suffered a major jolt when senior JD (U) leader and former minister Mangani Lal Mandal joined RJD.
RJD leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav inducted Mandal into the party in presence of senior leaders like former minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui and party MP Manoj Jha.
Who Is Mangani Lal Mandal?
Mandal, who was JD (U) national vice president, belongs to EBC category and his joining is expected to help RJD make inroads into the EBC votes in the assembly election. He had joined JD (U) in 2019 during the Lok Sabha election. It is being speculated that Mandal will be appointed state RJD president as the incumbent Jagdanand Singh is unwilling to continue on the post due to his advanced age.
After joining the RJD, former MP Mandal said that he had returned to his old home, while describing the party president Lalu Prasad as his leader and old colleague. He said that Lalu strengthened the forces of social justice when he was in power.
“I was given the post of vice president in JD (U) but I was not assigned any task. There is no internal democracy in JD (U),” he remarked while targeting his old party. He while addressing Tejashwi as the future chief minister also alleged that only three people were running the affairs of the state but did not reveal their names.
Tejashwi Welcomes Mandal's Return To RJD
On this occasion, Tejashwi welcomed Mandal`s return to the RJD, adding that the party would be strengthened by it. He also targeted RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his statement that the country’s true independence was established on Ram Temple consecration day and contended that these people had no role in the independence of the country.
“Since Bihar has an election this year, we will see central agencies like CBI, ED and income tax department becoming active in the state,” he remarked while targeting the Centre. He said that BJP got maximum votes in Bihar but still the Centre was meting out step motherly treatment to the state and making all investments in Gujarat. He also alleged that Bihar had become a hotbed of corruption during the nearly 20-year rule of Nitish Kumar government.
“People of Bihar demand the 20-year rule of Nitish government and 11-year rule of Narendra Modi government,” he contended.
