Will have zero tolerance approach towards corruption: Tejaswi Yadav

PATNA: Facing criticism over his appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav today promised to take the state forward on the path of development and asserted that he would have a zero tolerance approach towards corruption.

After assuming charge of the crucial road construction department today, Tejaswi told reporters that in order to take Bihar further on the path of development there was need to strengthen infrastructure of the state including roads.

"My priority would be to further enhance road connectivity in the state by linking every village. Roads were built at a great speed during the previous tenure of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. My priority would be to further accelerate the pace," he added.

Tejaswi also made it clear that he would have a zero tolerance approach towards corruption.

"Corruption will not be tolerated," he said.

His elder brother Tej Pratap also occupied the chair of the state's health ministry today with Principal Secretary, Health, Brajesh Mehrotra welcoming him on the new assignment.

In a grand event on Friday, Lalu's sons took oath as ministers of Bihar as Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state for the fifth time at the Gandhi Maidan.

Lalu is himself disqualified from contesting any election for at least six years after his conviction in a fodder scam case in 2013.

The appointment of debutante Tejaswi, Lalu's younger son, as deputy CM instead of more experienced leaders of RJD has triggered a barrage of criticism especially in social media.

Yesterday, Tejaswi had taken on his detractors, asking them "not to judge a book by its cover" and vowed to increase the value of 'Brand Bihar' so that Kumar feels "proud" of him.