‘Not Going Anywhere’: Lalu on Aide Raghuvansh Singh’s Resignation

This move comes ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections.

File photo of Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.

(Photo: IANS)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav on Thursday, 10 September, responded to the resignation letter of his aide Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, that has come as a big jolt for the party ahead of the Bihar elections.

“We will talk once you are well. You are not going anywhere,” Yadav said in his response, as quoted by ANI.

Party veteran and former Union Minister Singh quit the party on Thursday. He is currently admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi following health issues, sent a letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad announcing his resignation from the party, IANS reported.

Singh is reportedly one of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s oldest associates.

Addressing Lalu, Singh reportedly wrote, “I kept standing behind you for 32 years after the demise of Karpuri Thakur, but not any longer.” Issuing an apology to the people he wrote, “Party, leaders, workers and people gave me lots of love. Regrets.”

RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said that he has no official information of Singh’s resignation.

“I got to know about his resignation from the media. I have not received any official information. I'll only give any statement after official information is received,” he told IANS.

Issues With the Party

According to NDTV, Singh had been unhappy with RJD, which is being helmed by Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav since Lalu has been in jail on corruption charges.

According to IANS, Singh was upset over talks about former MP Rama Singh's entry into the RJD. He had earlier resigned from all party posts to register his dissent. However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had met him in the hospital to persuade him to stay

JDU Hints It’s Ready to Induct Singh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United termed Singh’s decision as the “right” one.

“Singh is a senior leader, he should have taken this step long ago,” JDU spokesman Ajay Alok said.

“The RJD has become an Acacia tree that's why people are running from it,”he said.

Over a question over whether there was a possibility of Singh joining the JDU, he said: “Any party would welcome a big leader like him.”

(With inputs from IANS and NDTV.)