New Delhi:
The end to Lalu-Nitish ‘bromance’ came with the resignation of Nitish Kumar on Wednesday from Bihar Chief ministerial post. This also ended Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) formed in Bihar against BJP.
The differences between the RJD and JDU became apparent when Nitish pledged support to NDA's Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, while RJD supported oppositions candidate Meira Kumar.
Reports also emerged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi called both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad to help them solve differences. However, Lalu Prasad said that he was not aware of such calls being made, adding that he will not let anyone break the Mahagatbandhan.
The relationship between RJD and JDU hit an all-time low due to tax notices and raids on properties owned by Lalu’s family.
On Narendra Modi’s much talked about move demonetization, Nitish called it a “direct” move to wipe out black money whereas Lalu termed it as a “fraud”.
On surgical strikes conducted on 29 September 2016 across Line of Control, Nitish was one of the first to come out in praise of Centre’s move. While Lalu Prasad Yadav criticised BJP for taking credit for surgical strikes, adding that the focus should be on increasing the morale of the armed forces instead
On 10 September 2016, when Mafia don and politician Shahabuddin, was released from jail, he praised his party boss Lalu Prasad and termed Nitish as a “chief minister of circumstances”.
The controversy following Mohammad Shahabuddin’s remarks against Bihar Chief Minister has not gone down well with the JD(U) rank and file as RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav sought to play it down. He said that the controversy was created by the media and asserted that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the RJD-JD(U) coalition.
The RJD president, however, Shahabuddin, saying he did not made any derogatory comments and the turmoil is created by media instead.
