Nitish Kumar should raise demands for special status for Bihar, nationwide caste census: Tejashwi Yadav

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should press the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for several key demands. Yadav emphasised the need for Bihar to receive special status, the implementation of a nationwide caste census, and increased quotas for deprived castes.

Speaking to to the media, the former Bihar deputy chief minister asserted that Bihar was playing a "decisive role" in the current political landscape. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has commenced his third consecutive term, was at his "weakest," suggesting an opportune moment for these demands to be addressed.  "In the current Lok Sabha, the opposition is strong and Bihar is playing a decisive role. Modi, who had for long been promising special status to the state, has of late stopped speaking about the same," alleged Yadav.

"Nitish ji should leverage his position and press demands like special status and a nationwide caste census. When we were sharing power, the quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs were raised. Putting the law in ninth schedule, so that it withstands judicial scrutiny, is also hanging fire," he said.

JD(U) won 12 seats in Lok Sabha elections

Notably, the JD (U), headed by the Bihar CM, won 12 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, becoming the second largest ally of BJP which fell short of majority. The RJD leader also said that allocation of portfolios in new Union council of ministers suggested that those from Bihar had been given a raw deal. He also made light of the final charge-sheet filed by ED in the land-for-jobs scam, saying, "In the same case there have been so many charge-sheets against us. Let the government keep in mind that times have changed.
If agencies do not mend their ways, Parliament will be pulled down."

Tejashwi on his party's performance in Lok Sabha polls

Yadav was also asked about the electoral performance of his own party, which got only four seats despite polling the highest percentage of votes. "Just look at our performance in the last Lok Sabha polls (when RJD drew a blank), after which we emerged as the single largest party in the state assembly. Our tally in Lok Sabha has improved four times. The same will get reflected in assembly polls," the RJD leader claimed.

(With PTI inputs)

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