PATNA: Former CM Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday accused RJD state president Jagdanand Singh of weakening the party and also held him responsible for the ill health of his father.
Talking to media persons at the party office here, the Hasanpur MLA said it was a matter of concern that even MLAs and former MLAs of the party had to seek an appointment with the state chief to meet him in the office for official work.
“It’s a party of the poor. But, workers’ entry has been banned here. Is it a democratic party? People like Jagdanand Singh are weakening the party,” he said.
The former health minister went on to say that even party MLAs were being denied due respect by the state president. “He is sitting in his chamber, but has not yet come out to receive me despite the fact that I am an MLA from Hasanpur,” he added.
Tej said Jagdanand’s predecessor Ram Chandra Purbe used to receive him at the party office whenever he visited it in the past. “This state president of the party has no respect for legislators,” he said.
Tej slammed Jagdanand of showing little interest in filling up the ‘azadi patra’ to pave the way for early release of Lalu from jail.
Sources in the party said Tej’s outburst against Jagdanand is a fallout of the latter’s reluctance to take part in the campaign launched by the former for the release of hios father.
Jagadanand later told reporters that it was an internal matter of the party and will be sorted out through dialogue. “Why Laluji is ill and what is his health condition is known to all,” he added.
This is not the first time when Tej has caused embarrassment to senior leaders of the party. Both Purbe and Jagdanand had to face the ire of Lalu’s elder son despite being loyal to the RJD chief.
However, former national vice-president of the party, late Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, had also raised objections over the manner in which Jagdanand was running the office. Raghuvansh had said the RJD office resembled a government office.
Meanwhile, JD (U) spokesperson Nihora Prasad assailed Tej Pratap for his disrespect to senior leaders of the RJD, including Jagdanand Singh. “RJD netas with socialist background are being humiliated by Lalu’s sons,” he alleged.