'Our Alliance is Unbreakable': JDU Snubs Akhilesh for Asking Nitish to Pull Out of BJP-Led NDA

Patna: After Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav called for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar 's exit from the BJP -led NDA government at the Centre, the JD(U) rebuffed his remarks, calling it "bizarre."

Reacting sharply, JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad hit out at Akhilesh Yadav for doing politics in the name of Jayaprakash Narayan and not caring for principles of the socialist stalwart and anti-Emergency movement icon.

JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, "It is a bizarre remark from Akhilesh Yadav who does politics in the name of JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), but never cares for the principles of the late leader who fought against dynasty rule all his life".

This comes after Akhilesh Yadav suggested Nitish Kumar to withdraw his party's support from the BJP -led NDA government at the Centre Amid a political tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) and the SP over garlanding the statue of Jayaprakash Narayan at the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar on his 122nd birth anniversary on Friday, October 11.

Akhilesh Yadav suggested Nitish Kumar to pull back from NDA govt "which is not allowing the Socialist to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary..." Addressing a gathering, the SP supremo said Nitish should make the suggested move since the JDU leader himself emerged from his (Jai Prakash Narayan) movement.

"Many of the Socialist people are in the govt and helping the govt to continue. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar emerged from his (Jai Prakash Narayan) movement, this is a chance for Nitish Kumar to withdraw support from the govt which is not allowing the Socialist to pay tribute to Jai Prakash Narayan on his birth anniversary...," said Akhilesh Yadav .

Notably, Yadav had alleged that barricades were put up outside his residence to "prevent" him from visiting an international convention centre named after JP, where he had famously reached a year ago by jumping over closed gates.

The JD(U) spokesperson said that the Samajwadi Party was "in the clutches of one family" and hence Yadav "must not have the temerity to invoke the legacy of JP".

Prasad also criticised Congress leader Pawan Khera for endorsing Yadav's statement and pointed out "it is the Congress which had caused untold miseries to JP and his followers".

The JD(U) leader, whose party's support is vital for the BJP 's continuance in power at the Centre, after loss of the majority in Lok Sabha, also asserted, "Our alliance is unbreakable and we are firmly together". 

(With PTI inputs)