Nitish should come back to NDA for Bihar's development: LJP

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) said that for the sake of Bihar's development it is must that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold so that the state is freed from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.

Talking to ANI, LJP leader Chirag Paswan said, "If we want development of Bihar, it's very important for Nitish Kumar to come back to NDA and give us a Lalu and family free Bihar."

He further added that Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has always followed the zero tolerance policy against corruption and hoped that latter will take a right decision on an appropriate time.

"Nitish Kumar has always followed the zero tolerance policy against corruption. Now, it's time that Nitish Kumar has to proof this. I hope that Nitish Kumar will take a right decision at an appropriate time," he added.

Lalu and his family are in a soup as they are facing Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax department and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probes over various black money and corruption charges.

Earlier last week, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejaswi; former Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Managing Director P.K. Goyal; and the wife of Lalu's confidante Prem Chand Gupta, Sujata on allegations of awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006.

The CBI later questioned Rabri Devi and Tejaswi.

However, Lalu on Friday said that his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is facing corruption charges, will not resign as Bihar Deputy Chief Minister.

"The Vidhan Mandal of our party has taken a decision that Tejashwi Yadav will not resign," Lalu told ANI in an exclusive conversation.

"An FIR is not sufficient reason for the resignation," he added.

This assertion from the RJD chief thus brought an end to speculations that Tejaswi Yadav might step down from the post to save the ruling alliance.

The RJD chief further said that he and his family have already issued their clarification on the corruption charges that have been filed by the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI).

After the CBI case, RJD and its coalition partner Janata Dal (United) have directed barbs at each other, increasing pressure on chief minister Nitish Kumar to sack Tejashwi to protect an image of clean governance.