After Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar to skip Rahul’s election rally

The listt of high-profile dropouts from Congress VP Rahul Gandhi’s first election rally in Bihar, scheduled
in West Champaran on Saturday, grew longer with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also pulling out. Instead, K.C. Tyagi, Rajya Sabha member from the Janata Dal(U), will take his placce.

Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad had said that he would be unavailable for thee rally. The pullout appears to be an indicationn that the Mahagathbandhan, or “grand alliaance”, of the three parties has underlying tensions as they contest the elections togetheer in Bihar.

The JD(U), hoowever, said the pullout was not to be seen as a negative moove. “This is not a negative thing as I shall be representing thee party, and Tejaswi (Mr. Prasad’s son) would be attending as well. We want the whole focus to be on Mr. Rahul G.andhi as this is his rally,” Mr. Tyagee said.

JD(U) cites meeeting

Mr. Tyagi saiid on Thursday that Mr. Kumar and Mr. Prasad coould not participate in Mr.Gandhi’s election rally in Bihar on Saturday as they would be in discussioon to finalise candidates for the second phase of elections to be heldd on October 16.

“It is a complicated seat distribution annd both leaders cannot be spared,” he said. Relations between Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Lalu Prasad are already straineed, according to sources because of the Congress leader’s backing of Mr. Kumar as the alliance’s chief miinisterial candidate.