'Pair Pakadva Mukhya Mantri': Tejashwi Yadav mocks Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar

NEW DELHI: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has stepped up his attacks on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as the state gears up for the year-end assembly elections. On Wednesday, Tejashwi mocked Nitish as he called him 'Pair Pakadva Mukhya Mantri.' "Bihar does not need a 'Pair Pakadva Mukhya Mantri'. Bihar needs a chief minister who has a vision and can fearlessly take Bihar forward," the leader of the opposition said. Tejashwi was attacking Nitish Kumar over the chief minister's bid to touch PM Modi's feet at NDA rallies and a meeting.

Targeting Nitish over alleged relocation of the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR) and the Seed Production Centre from Bihar to Karnataka, the RJD leader also accused the chief minister of prioritizing his position over the welfare of Bihar. "Nitish Kumar does not care about anything except his chair," Yadav said, calling for a more visionary and assertive leadership in the state.
"If the Bihar CM was aware of this, did he talk to the PM and the agriculture minister? They (NDA) have no intention of putting an end to migration from Bihar; they are preparing to boost it," Yadav remarked, expressing concern over the decision.

He also pointed out that BJP leaders, including Union Minister Giriraj Singh, only reacted after his tweet. "No one from the BJP has protested this move," he added.
Tejashwi's offensive against Nitish came as the Enforcement Directorate questions his family in the land-for-jobs case. Lalu Yadav and his family members are facing allegations of misusing their influence to secure jobs in the railways in exchange for land.
Tejashwi slammed the BJP over the ED questioning and said that cases were being filed against them due to "political vendetta".
Accusing the government of "misusing" constitutional institutions, Yadav said this would only strengthen them and allow them to come to power in Bihar.
"Cases are being filed against us due to political vendetta. This does not affect us. They are anxious and fearful. The more they misuse the constitutional institutions, the stronger we will get. We will form the government in Bihar with the same strength. All teams of the BJP and IT Cell will work only in Bihar now," Tejashwi said.
The BJP has already trained its guns at Lalu Prasad and his family over the ED questioning.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh launched a scathing attack on Lalu saying Bihar doesn't want a chief minister from a "corrupt family."
(With inputs from agencies)