Lalu Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav likely to be made RJD house leader

PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) newly-elected MLAs have authorised party chief Lalu Prasad to nominate the RJD legislature party leader.

A meeting of the MLAs would be held at the residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi, who is also wife of party chief Lalu Prasad, on Saturday.

“The newly elected MLAs authorised me to nominate the leader of RJD legislature party today. I will take a decision,” RJD chief Lalu Prasad told reporters after the end of the meeting on Friday evening.

Sources in the RJD said party chief will first hold talks with his party’s senior leaders before nominating the leader of RJD legislature party.

“Laluji’s son Tejashwi Yadav is likely to become leader of the RJD legislature party. But, the party chief wants to nominate him only after holding talks with party’s senior leaders,” a source in the RJD told ET.

RJD, which bagged 80 seats in the 243-member state assembly, emerged the largest party after the poll results. Tejashwi Yadav, who has won from Raghopur seat, is a good orator.

“RJD has also kept its eye on the post of the Speaker of the state assembly. RJD’s prominent Muslim face, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, may be Prasad’s choice for the post of Speaker,” another source in RJD said on the condition of anonymity.

Tejashwi Yadav’s growing political clout got was reflected after his entry into the hall where RJD MLAs gathered to attend the meeting. Most MLAs rose from their chair after seeing him.

He was accompanied by his brother Tejpratap Yadav, who won the Mahua seat. Both brothers sat next to each other at the meeting with other MLAs. Addressing his MLAs, Prasad said that the party organisation was important more than individuals.

He also asked them not to make any statement regarding the party.

“He asked us to stick to the system within the party. He was referring to the presence of spokespersons in the organisation for making statement in the media,” an MLA told ET.