The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to advocate for special status for Bihar, a nationwide caste census, and increased quotas for deprived castes before the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Speaking to journalists upon his return from Delhi, Yadav emphasized that Bihar plays a decisive role in national politics and claimed that Prime Minister Modi, now in his third consecutive term, is at his weakest.
“In the current Lok Sabha, the opposition is strong, and Bihar is playing a crucial role. Modi, who had long promised special status for the state, has recently stopped mentioning it,” Yadav asserted. He urged Nitish Kumar to use his position to press for special status and a nationwide caste census. “When we were in power together, quotas for SCs, STs, and OBCs were increased. However, placing these laws in the ninth schedule to withstand judicial scrutiny remains unresolved,” he added.
The JD (U), led by Nitish Kumar, secured 12 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, making it the second-largest ally of the BJP, which did not achieve a majority. Yadav also commented on the new Union council of ministers, suggesting that representatives from Bihar were not adequately considered.
Tejashwi Yadav dismissed the significance of the final charge-sheet filed by the ED in the land-for-jobs scam, saying, “There have been multiple charge-sheets against us in the same case. The government should recognize that times have changed. If agencies do not reform, Parliament will be disrupted.”
Addressing the electoral performance of the RJD, which won only four seats despite receiving the highest percentage of votes, Yadav highlighted the party’s past resilience. “In the last Lok Sabha polls, we did not win any seats, yet we emerged as the single largest party in the state assembly. Our tally in the Lok Sabha has improved fourfold, and this will be reflected in the upcoming assembly elections,” he asserted.