Rift within NDA as ally, RJD join hands'

Patna: Cracks within the NDA surfaced on Tuesday as prominent ally RLSP was seen holding hands with the RJD in Patna.

The RJD, which is the major Opposition party in Bihar, on Tuesday openly supported RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha’s human chain against the education system in Bihar.

Some of the senior RJD leaders were also seen holding hands with the RLSP chief, while none of the NDA leaders, including those from the JD(U) or BJP were present during the event.

However, Mr Kushwaha and RJD leaders later issued separate statements and said that “no political meaning” should be attached to the event.

RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary, who was seen holding hands with Mr Kushwaha during the event, later told reporters, “The party decided to support the RLSP leader because education system in Bihar has collapsed and chief minister Nitish Kumar instead of paying attention to the matter of governance, has been busy with issues like child marriage and dowry for his own political gains.”

The issue has created ripples in the political circle here and fuelled speculation regarding growing rift within the NDA in Bihar.