Patna: Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi on Saturday courted a controversy by claiming voters are up for sale. Speaking at the national executive committee meeting of RJD at the 23rd foundation day in Patna, Rabri said, “All voters are up for sale. Whoever gives them money, they vote for them. Even the party workers demand money.”
Rabri also regretted RJD workers were not actively promoting the party. “Sporting starched white shirts, they too have become leaders. They should become active and start agitation on public issues.”RJD had its worst electoral show in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, where all its candidates were defeated.Her children Tejashwi, Tejpratap and Misa Bharti were also present in the meet.
A senior RJD legislator Maheshwar Yadav demanded RJD president Lalu Prasad and his entire family who were occupying top positions in the party should resign for the “revival and survival” of the RJD. He suggested if Lalu was keen on appointing only a Yadav as the party chief, he should make his trusted MLA Bhola Yadav as party chief.
Party vice-president Shivanand Tiwari alleged the RJD candidate from Jahanabad lost due to the candidature of a rebel partyman fielded by Tejpratap. But, no disciplinary action was taken against him, he said.
Later, state party president Ramchandra Purvey said the executive committee has authorised Tejashwi to lead the party for the 2020 Assembly election, too. He said Tejashwi would be projected as the chief ministerial candidate by the Grand Alliance.
- CHHAYA MISHRA
