Poll strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj Party is hoping to make its mark in the Bihar Assembly elections slated for later this year, has claimed that the Congress party has subordinated itself to the Rashtriya Janata Dal in the state.
Terming the Congress as a "sidekick" of the RJD, Kishor said that the party was earlier "beholden" to former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, and it was now the turn of his son Tejashwi Yadav.
"The Congress has reduced itself to a sidekick of the RJD in Bihar. Earlier, the state Congress was beholden to Lalu Prasad, now it is the turn of (younger son and heir apparent) Tejashwi Yadav," Kishor said, addressing a press conference in Muzaffarpur.
Kishor, however, said that Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi can do one "small thing" to prove him wrong and demanded that the leader condemn Lalu Prasad Yadav for having a portrait of Ambedkar placed at his feet.
"I ask Rahul Gandhi to do a small thing to prove me wrong. Let him issue just one statement criticising Lalu Prasad for having a portrait of Ambedkar placed at his feet," Kishor said, referring to the recent controversy over a video from the RJD chief’s 78th birthday event last week.
A video of the event that went viral on social media showed an RJD worker gifting Lalu a portrait of BR Ambedkar and holding it close to his feet while the RJD chief continued to pose for photographs.
The incident drew sharp criticism from the RJD’s rival parties, particularly the ruling BJP and its NDA allies, who have accused Lalu of "insulting the architect of the Indian Constitution" and "hurting Dalit sentiments".
"It is extremely unfortunate that on Lalu ji’s birthday, such an insult to Baba Ambedkar took place. There can be no greater shame for democracy. This incident is a clear symbol of a dark chapter for the RJD… It reflects the mindset of those who have always used Dalit votes but have little regard for their icons," Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said.
The RJD, however, dismissed the allegations as "politically motivated" and claimed that then video was "deliberately misrepresented" to malign Lalu’s image and polarise Dalit voters ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
"It’s BJP’s propaganda. They don’t have any topic. The BJP themselves have been known for disrespecting Baba Sahab. Lalu ji has always championed the cause of social justice and has the highest respect for Dr Ambedkar. They are distorting facts for electoral gains," RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said.
The Congress, which has consistently targeted the BJP and its top leaders of "insulting" Ambedkar, has maintained a stoic silence on the entire controversy.
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