(PTI)
In the eye of a storm after lodging of an FIR by the CBI against him in the land-for-hotels case, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav today attended a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Amid the continuing stand off between JD(U) and RJD over the former’s demand to explain the alleged acquisition of massive wealth, Deputy CM Yadav went to the CM’s chamber after the Cabinet meeting. His minister brother Tej Pratap Yadav and state Congress chief and minister Ashok Choudhary too were present in the CM’s room.
It was not clear what transpired in the meeting, which appeared to show that the Grand Alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress is intact. Amid the mounting tension between JD(U) and RJD over the the former’s demand from the deputy CM to clear his name in public with facts over the CBI allegation in the case and the later saying ‘no’ to Tejashwi’s resignation, there was speculation if he would attend the Cabinet meeting at all. Tejashwi had on Saturday skipped a government function in which he had to share dais with the chief minister.
The deputy CM, however, arrived for the meeting along with Tej Pratap Yadav in the same car. Earlier, many RJD ministers assembled at the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and moved together for the Cabinet meeting from there in a motorcade. The mediapersons were barred entry into the secretariat, the venue of the Cabinet meeting, following a scuffle between Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav’s securitymen and mediapersons after the last Cabinet meet on Wednesday.
