Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the RJD and deputy chief minister of Bihar, stated on Saturday that although the Congress is the largest party in the opposition, regional parties should be given the opportunity to take the “driver’s seat” in order to compete with the BJP in the general elections of 2024 wherever they are strong. Yadav said that he was working with Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister of Bihar, and Lalu Prasad to bring together the Congress and regional parties. “In Bihar, the Mahagathbandhan includes the Congress. We are the larger party in Bihar, but the Congress is the largest opposition party nationwide. Lalu Ji, Nitish Ji, and I are all working to get Congress and regional parties to join together and determine what the best course of action is “After spending more than eight hours being questioned, Yadav responded to a query from reporters as he was leaving the CBI headquarters.
One thing is certain, as we have already said, and the Congress people need to be aware of this, said Yadav: “Wherever regional parties are strong, they have to be in the driver’s seat.” He said that there are around 200 seats where there is a direct battle with the BJP and that the Congress should engage in it. In one instance, Yadav was questioned by the CBI for more than eight hours over a land-for-jobs scheme involving the railroads. When questioned about his interrogation, the RJD leader said that his family had always cooperated with the investigation and responded to all inquiries. “The fact that there was no swindle is obvious. Everyone is aware of the cause of this, “added he.
His comments were made on a day when Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, emphasised opposition unity and urged all opposition parties to cooperate. Gandhi said that by excluding him from the Lok Sabha, the current administration had handed them a “huge weapon.” Gandhi also praised a number of opposition groups for rallying behind him after he was found guilty of defamation and removed from the Lok Sabha. The Congress said it was time for the party to take on the task of fostering opposition unity in a “systematic fashion” on Friday in response to remarks made by opposition leaders criticising Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha.
