Clearing the air over his meeting with <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rjd-seeks-to-fish-in-troubled-waters-as-nda-works-out-seat-sharing-formula-in-bihar-173738">Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav</a>, Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha said that the meeting was a "coincidence".

Kushwaha on Friday held closed-door talks with Tejashwi at the circuit house in Arwal hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Delhi and announced that the BJP and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) would contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections on an equal number of seats in Bihar.

Shah also said that a respectable share of seats would be given to other allies in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Kushwaha and Tejashwi`s meeting triggered speculation about the former's possible exit from the ruling NDA.

However, Kushwaha said, "Nothing is final on seat sharing. Amit Shah ji also said that we will finalise it in a few days. Meeting with Tejashwi Yadav was just a coincidence."

Reacting on the same, Tejashwi confirmed that the meeting took place but refrained from divulging details."Meeting took place. But it`s not compulsory to reveal what did we talk. Everything cannot happen in just one day."

"I had a scheduled event in Arwal and met him (Upendra Kushwaha) at the circuit house. Meetings are always positive. What conversation happened with whom, everything will be revealed in due time," he added.

Earlier, Shah informed that the RLSP chief and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan would continue to remain with the BJP.

Clearing the air over his meeting with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha said that the meeting was a "coincidence".

Clearing the air over his meeting with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha said that the meeting was a "coincidence". Kushwaha on Friday held closed-door talks with Tejashwi at the circuit house in Arwal hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Delhi and announced that the BJP and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) would contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections on an equal number of seats in Bihar. Shah also said that a respectable share of seats would be given to other allies in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Kushwaha and Tejashwi`s meeting triggered speculation about the former's possible exit from the ruling NDA. However, Kushwaha said, "Nothing is final on seat sharing. Amit Shah ji also said that we will finalise it in a few days. Meeting with Tejashwi Yadav was just a coincidence." Reacting on the same, Tejashwi confirmed that the meeting took place but refrained from divulging details."Meeting took place. But it`s not compulsory to reveal what did we talk. Everything cannot happen in just one day." "I had a scheduled event in Arwal and met him (Upendra Kushwaha) at the circuit house. Meetings are always positive. What conversation happened with whom, everything will be revealed in due time," he added. Earlier, Shah informed that the RLSP chief and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan would continue to remain with the BJP.

Meeting with Tejashwi a coincidence: Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha

Rebel JD(U) Members of Parliament (MPs) Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar were disqualified from the Rajya Sabha on Monday night after the Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu agreed to the Janata Dal (United)&#39;s contention that the two senior leaders had &quot;voluntarily given up&quot; their membership by defying their party&#39;s directives and attending events of opposition parties.

Venkaiah Naidu in his communication said the two leaders ceased to be Rajya Sabha members with immediate effect.

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had asked for Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar to be disqualified for attending a rally of opposition parties led by the JD(U) in Patna in violation of its direction.

Sharad Yadav had crossed over into the camp of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav after JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar dumped the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of the Congress and the RJD the in Bihar and allied with the BJP.

Sharad Yadav was elected to the Rajya Sabha last year and his term was scheduled to end in 2022. Anwar Ali&#39;s term was to end early next year.

The former JD(U) president, who is at present in Gujarat to campaign against the BJP, is expected to respond to his disqualification today.

(With inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu agreed to the Janata Dal (United)'s contention that the two senior leaders had 'voluntarily given up' their membership by defying their party's directives and attending events of opposition parties

Rebel JD(U) Members of Parliament (MPs) Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar were disqualified from the Rajya Sabha on Monday night after the Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu agreed to the Janata Dal (United)'s contention that the two senior leaders had "voluntarily given up" their membership by defying their party's directives and attending events of opposition parties. Venkaiah Naidu in his communication said the two leaders ceased to be Rajya Sabha members with immediate effect. The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had asked for Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar to be disqualified for attending a rally of opposition parties led by the JD(U) in Patna in violation of its direction. Sharad Yadav had crossed over into the camp of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav after JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar dumped the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of the Congress and the RJD the in Bihar and allied with the BJP. Sharad Yadav was elected to the Rajya Sabha last year and his term was scheduled to end in 2022. Anwar Ali's term was to end early next year. The former JD(U) president, who is at present in Gujarat to campaign against the BJP, is expected to respond to his disqualification today. (With inputs from PTI)

Sharad Yadav, Anwar Ali disqualified from Rajya Sabha

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu.

&quot;Mr. Amit Shah and the BJP should bring an amendment to the constitution which says in order to qualify to be a Hindu every claimant must visit temples at this frequency per day, per week, per month, per year. Only then will Mr. Amit Shah certify if one is a Hindu or not,&quot; JDU leader Pavan Varma told ANI.

A heated controversy on religion emerged after the BJP raised a question on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi after his name was allegedly listed as a non-Hindu visitor in the visitor-book during his visit at Gujarat&#39;s Somnath Temple.

The controversy started when party&#39;s media coordinator Manoj Tyagi allegedly entered names of Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Ahmed Patel in the special register for non-Hindus visiting the temple.

Later, Rahul Gandhi had said his family is devotee of Lord Shiva, but does not believe in using it for political gain.The Congress also issued a clarification on Twitter saying, &quot;There is only one visitor&#39;s book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. Any other image being circulated is fabricated. Desperate times call for desperate measures.&#39;&#39;

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu. "Mr. Amit Shah and the BJP should bring an amendment to the constitution which says in order to qualify to be a Hindu every claimant must visit temples at this frequency per day, per week, per month, per year. Only then will Mr. Amit Shah certify if one is a Hindu or not," JDU leader Pavan Varma told ANI. A heated controversy on religion emerged after the BJP raised a question on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi after his name was allegedly listed as a non-Hindu visitor in the visitor-book during his visit at Gujarat's Somnath Temple. The controversy started when party's media coordinator Manoj Tyagi allegedly entered names of Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Ahmed Patel in the special register for non-Hindus visiting the temple. Later, Rahul Gandhi had said his family is devotee of Lord Shiva, but does not believe in using it for political gain.The Congress also issued a clarification on Twitter saying, "There is only one visitor's book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. Any other image being circulated is fabricated. Desperate times call for desperate measures.''

JDU takes on BJP over Rahul Gandhi temple entry row

Even as the Janata Dal (United) said Monday that Sharad Yadav had &quot;voluntarily&quot; left the party, the former party president said he had no intention&nbsp;of quitting the party under pressure.

Sharad Yadav, who has openly opposed the newly-stitched alliance with the BJP in Bihar, said he was among the founders of the party and would not leave the party.

&quot;People of the state support the grand alliance it voted for. People are saddened by the breakup of the alliance. I have not quit the party. I am the founder of JD (U),&quot; he said.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi had said on Monday that Sharad Yadav seemed to have left the party since he was not participating in JD(U) events but those organised by the RJD.

He said only rebel MP Ali Anwar Ansari, who was suspended from the parliamentary party for taking part in a meeting of opposition parties, was with senior leader Sharad Yadav.&nbsp;

&quot;There is no split in the party. It is as united behind Nitish Kumar as it was until recently. A party does not split if one or two persons leave it.... As far as Sharad ji is concerned, he has left the party voluntarily,&quot; he had told the press.

Earlier Monday, the JD(U) suspended 21 leaders in Bihar, considered loyal to Sharad Yadav, for alleged anti-party activities. 
 
&quot;There is no split in JD(U) as such. We are holding a party meeting on August 19, but I don&#39;t think that Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar will come,&quot; JD(U) leader KC&nbsp;Tyagi said addressing a press conference.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Sharad Yadav has every right to take his own decision about where his loyalties lie and claimed the&nbsp;decision to form an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was made with the consent of the entire party.

Anwar Ali was suspended from the JD (U) parliamentary party for participating in an Opposition meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sharad Yadav earlier claimed that he had sent Ali Anwar to attend a meeting of opposition parties convened by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi so that a Bihar-like grand alliance was replicated countrywide.

Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of the party national executive in Patna on August 19. 
&nbsp;

Sharad Yadav said he had no intention?of quitting the party under pressure

Even as the Janata Dal (United) said Monday that Sharad Yadav had "voluntarily" left the party, the former party president said he had no intention of quitting the party under pressure. Sharad Yadav, who has openly opposed the newly-stitched alliance with the BJP in Bihar, said he was among the founders of the party and would not leave the party. "People of the state support the grand alliance it voted for. People are saddened by the breakup of the alliance. I have not quit the party. I am the founder of JD (U)," he said. JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi had said on Monday that Sharad Yadav seemed to have left the party since he was not participating in JD(U) events but those organised by the RJD. He said only rebel MP Ali Anwar Ansari, who was suspended from the parliamentary party for taking part in a meeting of opposition parties, was with senior leader Sharad Yadav. "There is no split in the party. It is as united behind Nitish Kumar as it was until recently. A party does not split if one or two persons leave it.... As far as Sharad ji is concerned, he has left the party voluntarily," he had told the press. Earlier Monday, the JD(U) suspended 21 leaders in Bihar, considered loyal to Sharad Yadav, for alleged anti-party activities. "There is no split in JD(U) as such. We are holding a party meeting on August 19, but I don't think that Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar will come," JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said addressing a press conference. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Sharad Yadav has every right to take his own decision about where his loyalties lie and claimed the decision to form an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was made with the consent of the entire party. Anwar Ali was suspended from the JD (U) parliamentary party for participating in an Opposition meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Sharad Yadav earlier claimed that he had sent Ali Anwar to attend a meeting of opposition parties convened by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi so that a Bihar-like grand alliance was replicated countrywide. Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of the party national executive in Patna on August 19.

JD(U) says Sharad Yadav leaving, reply is: I founded party, will not quit

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav is set to present his faction as the &quot;real&quot; party claiming that many of its state units are with him while the support for party president Nitish Kumar is confined to Bihar.

The Sharad Yadav-led faction, which includes two Rajya Sabha MPs and some national office-bearers, has armed itself with letters of support from 14 state unit presidents, Arun Shrivastava, a close aide of the senior JD(U) leader said. Nitish Kumar recently removed Sharad Yadav from the post of the party&#39;s general secretary.

To counter Nitish Kumar&#39;s assertion that the JD(U) is recognised only in Bihar - a point made to debunk claims of support from other state units by the Yadav faction-- Shrivastava claimed the party always had a national footprint. He said it was Yadav who headed the party before Kumar had merged his Samata Party with it.

&quot;We will not leave the party. Nitish Kumar himself says that the party does not exist outside Bihar. Then he should form a new party for Bihar. He should not try to capture the JD(U) which always had a national presence,&quot; he told PTI. The &quot;Janata Parivar&quot;, a reference to various parties with socialist ethos, has a history of mergers and splits.

Sharad Yadav enjoys little support from the party&#39;s lawmakers, who are overwhelmingly from Bihar, but believes that he can make a fight of his claim over the party and cause a split. The original Janata Dal has seen several such splits at in the past. Two Rajya Sabha members, Ali Anwar Ansari and M P Veerendra Kumar, are seen to be with the JD(U) leader in his fight against Nitish Kumar.

The JD(U) has removed Sharad Yadav as the leader of its parliamentary party in the Rajya Sabha. It has also made light of his claims of having the real JD(U) with him, saying that it is RJD workers and supporters who have greeted him during his tour in Bihar while its workers have kept away. During his visit to the national capital on Friday, Nitish Kumar had virtually shut the door on any reconciliation with Yadav, saying he is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party&#39;s nod.

&quot;He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as the party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so,&quot; Nitish had told reporters. 
&nbsp;

The Sharad Yadav-led faction has armed itself with letters of support from 14 state unit presidents, a close aide of the senior JD(U) leader said

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav is set to present his faction as the "real" party claiming that many of its state units are with him while the support for party president Nitish Kumar is confined to Bihar. The Sharad Yadav-led faction, which includes two Rajya Sabha MPs and some national office-bearers, has armed itself with letters of support from 14 state unit presidents, Arun Shrivastava, a close aide of the senior JD(U) leader said. Nitish Kumar recently removed Sharad Yadav from the post of the party's general secretary. To counter Nitish Kumar's assertion that the JD(U) is recognised only in Bihar - a point made to debunk claims of support from other state units by the Yadav faction-- Shrivastava claimed the party always had a national footprint. He said it was Yadav who headed the party before Kumar had merged his Samata Party with it. "We will not leave the party. Nitish Kumar himself says that the party does not exist outside Bihar. Then he should form a new party for Bihar. He should not try to capture the JD(U) which always had a national presence," he told PTI. The "Janata Parivar", a reference to various parties with socialist ethos, has a history of mergers and splits. Sharad Yadav enjoys little support from the party's lawmakers, who are overwhelmingly from Bihar, but believes that he can make a fight of his claim over the party and cause a split. The original Janata Dal has seen several such splits at in the past. Two Rajya Sabha members, Ali Anwar Ansari and M P Veerendra Kumar, are seen to be with the JD(U) leader in his fight against Nitish Kumar. The JD(U) has removed Sharad Yadav as the leader of its parliamentary party in the Rajya Sabha. It has also made light of his claims of having the real JD(U) with him, saying that it is RJD workers and supporters who have greeted him during his tour in Bihar while its workers have kept away. During his visit to the national capital on Friday, Nitish Kumar had virtually shut the door on any reconciliation with Yadav, saying he is free to take any decision as the alliance with the BJP had the entire party's nod. "He (Yadav) is free to take his decision. As far as the party is concerned, it has already taken its decision. The decision was not mine alone and it was taken with the consent of the party. If he keeps a different opinion, then he is free to do so," Nitish had told reporters.

Sharad Yadav says his faction 'real JD(U)', claims support across states

Lalu Prasad said on Thursday that he was considering appealing to the Supreme Court against the governor&#39;s decision to invite the JD(U)&#39;s Nitish Kumar and the BJP to form a government in Bihar considering the RJD is the largest party in the state.&nbsp;

The RJD has 81 MLAs, the JD(U) 71, the BJP 53, and the Congress 27.&nbsp;

He added that efforts to cobble together a combined Opposition would continue.&nbsp;

&quot;Mayawati, Akhilesh, Mamata, we will get them all together, so what if Nitish has gone to the BJP?&quot; ANI quoted Lalu as saying.&nbsp;

When asked if he had been asked to break the mahagatbandhan -- the former JDU-RJD-Congress alliance that was ruling the state -- he said that was fake news emanating from Delhi.&nbsp;

&quot;This is all fake news from Delhi,&quot; ANI quoted him as saying.&nbsp;

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Amit Shah is the Super Editor, he decides how news should be &amp; he tells owners of media, who tells editors, not reporters fault: Lalu Yadav <a href="https://t.co/3xVbAEIMqk">pic.twitter.com/3xVbAEIMqk</a>
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Some media who we had thought were good, they took supari. See how the US media is fighting Trump, here media fights opposition: Lalu Yadav <a href="https://t.co/gp58ASzg3b">pic.twitter.com/gp58ASzg3b</a>
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He added that Wednesday&#39;s breakneck developments -- Nitish&#39;s sudden resignation, the announcement that he was joining hands with the BJP -- had been fixed in advance. &nbsp;

&quot;On many occasions, Nitish met PM Modi, had lunch. The timing of whatever happened was already fixed,&quot; he said.

And, perhaps optimistically, he added that this was the end of Nitish Kumar.&nbsp;

Most political commentators however were on Wednesday (when the news first broke that Nitish was joining hands with the BJP) and Thursday saying the opposite -- that it is Lalu who is going to find the going lonely.&nbsp;

He added that efforts to cobble together a combined Opposition would continue

Lalu Prasad said on Thursday that he was considering appealing to the Supreme Court against the governor's decision to invite the JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar and the BJP to form a government in Bihar considering the RJD is the largest party in the state. The RJD has 81 MLAs, the JD(U) 71, the BJP 53, and the Congress 27. He added that efforts to cobble together a combined Opposition would continue. "Mayawati, Akhilesh, Mamata, we will get them all together, so what if Nitish has gone to the BJP?" ANI quoted Lalu as saying. When asked if he had been asked to break the mahagatbandhan -- the former JDU-RJD-Congress alliance that was ruling the state -- he said that was fake news emanating from Delhi. "This is all fake news from Delhi," ANI quoted him as saying. Amit Shah is the Super Editor, he decides how news should be & he tells owners of media, who tells editors, not reporters fault: Lalu Yadav pic.twitter.com/3xVbAEIMqk — ANI (@ANI_news) July 27, 2017 × Some media who we had thought were good, they took supari. See how the US media is fighting Trump, here media fights opposition: Lalu Yadav pic.twitter.com/gp58ASzg3b — ANI (@ANI_news) July 27, 2017 × He added that Wednesday's breakneck developments -- Nitish's sudden resignation, the announcement that he was joining hands with the BJP -- had been fixed in advance. "On many occasions, Nitish met PM Modi, had lunch. The timing of whatever happened was already fixed," he said. And, perhaps optimistically, he added that this was the end of Nitish Kumar. Most political commentators however were on Wednesday (when the news first broke that Nitish was joining hands with the BJP) and Thursday saying the opposite -- that it is Lalu who is going to find the going lonely.

Lalu: Considering appealing to Supreme Court

Rahul Gandhi has said they had known for three to four months that this -- Nitish leaving his alliance with the RJD and Congress and joining hands with the BJP -- was being planned.&nbsp;

&quot;3-4 mahine se humein pata tha ye planning chal rahi hai. Apne swaarth ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jata hai,&quot; ANI reported him as saying.&nbsp;

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Satta ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jaata hai, koi neeyam, credibility nahin hai: Rahul Gandhi on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NitishKumar?src=hash">#NitishKumar</a> <a href="https://t.co/8eRvp6hdvV">pic.twitter.com/8eRvp6hdvV</a>
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&quot;Mandate was given to Nitish ji for the anti-communal fight but now he has joined hands with them for his personal politics,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Rahul added that for political power, a man can do anything. &nbsp;

&quot;Satta ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jaata hai, koi neeyam, credibility nahin hai,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

'Mandate was given to Nitish ji for the anti-communal fight but now he has joined hands with them for his personal politics,' Rahul said

Rahul Gandhi has said they had known for three to four months that this -- Nitish leaving his alliance with the RJD and Congress and joining hands with the BJP -- was being planned. "3-4 mahine se humein pata tha ye planning chal rahi hai. Apne swaarth ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jata hai," ANI reported him as saying. Satta ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jaata hai, koi neeyam, credibility nahin hai: Rahul Gandhi on #NitishKumar pic.twitter.com/8eRvp6hdvV — ANI (@ANI_news) July 27, 2017 × "Mandate was given to Nitish ji for the anti-communal fight but now he has joined hands with them for his personal politics," he said. Rahul added that for political power, a man can do anything. "Satta ke liye vyakti kuch bhi kar jaata hai, koi neeyam, credibility nahin hai," he said.

Rahul on Nitish: Knew for 3-4 months this was being planned

Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar.&nbsp;

The BJP&#39;s Sushil Modi&nbsp;will be deputy chief minister.

Nitish had unexpectedly resigned on Wednesday dumping his former alliance partners the RJD and Congress, only to return a few hours later partnering this time with the BJP. &nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> Nitish Kumar&#39;s swearing-in ceremony as Bihar CM at Raj Bhawan in Patna <a href="https://t.co/kHgjRs8gjD">https://t.co/kHgjRs8gjD</a>
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&nbsp;

The BJP's Sushil Modi was sworn in as deputy chief minister

Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar. The BJP's Sushil Modi will be deputy chief minister. Nitish had unexpectedly resigned on Wednesday dumping his former alliance partners the RJD and Congress, only to return a few hours later partnering this time with the BJP. #WATCH Nitish Kumar's swearing-in ceremony as Bihar CM at Raj Bhawan in Patna https://t.co/kHgjRs8gjD — ANI (@ANI_news) July 27, 2017 ×

WATCH LIVE: Nitish Kumar's swearing in

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav on Monday dismissed questions about the growing chorus for his resignation as media speculation. 
 
The BJP maintained that he has only two options -&nbsp;resign or get sacked. 
 
Responding to a question on the demand for his resignation,&nbsp;Tejashwi told reporters outside the Assembly,&nbsp;&quot;It (resignation demand) is only in the media.&quot; 
 
Tejashwi had skipped an official function on July 15,&nbsp;where he was to share the dais with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering speculation that the festering acrimony between the JD(U) and the RJD had reached a flash point in the wake of an FIR being registered by the CBI against the deputy chief minister in the land-for-hotels case. 
 
RJD president Lalu Prasad has also ruled out the resignation of his son Tejashwi. 
 
While Tejaswi appeared to have decided to dig in his heels, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, &quot;He has only two options - either tender resignation or get sacked.&quot; 
 
Modi, who is the state BJP Parliamentary Party chief, urged Nitish Kumar to &quot;stand firm on his ground (in seeking Tejashwi&#39;s resignation)... The BJP will be standing with him on his decision on this issue&quot;. 
 
Though none of the JD(U) spokespersons&nbsp;made any statement on the issue today (Monday), party MLA Shyam Bahadur Singh said, &quot;It&#39;s better if the alliance breaks today... We love to work with the BJP.&quot; 
 
Congress MLA Shakil Ahmad Khan and MLC Dilip Chaudhary suggested senior leaders of the three coalition partners&nbsp;talk among themselves to hammer out a solution. 
 
Nitish Kumar heads a three-party coalition government which also includes the Congress. 
 
Amid reports of the BJP going soft on Nitish Kumar after the Tejashwi episode,&nbsp;Modi thanked the chief minister&nbsp;for his support to the NDA&#39;s presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind. 
 
&quot;Nitish Kumar&#39;s support to the NDA nominee holds a lot of significance for which we thank him,&quot; he said, claiming that along with NDA and JD(U) MLAs, four Independents also voted for Kovind. 
 
Tejashwi, who was accompanied by RJD chief whip in the Assembly Lalit Yadav, also claimed 100 per cent voting by the RJD and Congress MLAs in favour of the UPA&nbsp;presidential nominee&nbsp;Meira Kumar. 
 
Three CPI(ML) MLAs have also voted for Meira Kumar.

The BJP maintained that the Bihar deputy chief minister has only two options -?resign or get sacked

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav on Monday dismissed questions about the growing chorus for his resignation as media speculation. The BJP maintained that he has only two options - resign or get sacked. Responding to a question on the demand for his resignation, Tejashwi told reporters outside the Assembly, "It (resignation demand) is only in the media." Tejashwi had skipped an official function on July 15, where he was to share the dais with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, triggering speculation that the festering acrimony between the JD(U) and the RJD had reached a flash point in the wake of an FIR being registered by the CBI against the deputy chief minister in the land-for-hotels case. RJD president Lalu Prasad has also ruled out the resignation of his son Tejashwi. While Tejaswi appeared to have decided to dig in his heels, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, "He has only two options - either tender resignation or get sacked." Modi, who is the state BJP Parliamentary Party chief, urged Nitish Kumar to "stand firm on his ground (in seeking Tejashwi's resignation)... The BJP will be standing with him on his decision on this issue". Though none of the JD(U) spokespersons made any statement on the issue today (Monday), party MLA Shyam Bahadur Singh said, "It's better if the alliance breaks today... We love to work with the BJP." Congress MLA Shakil Ahmad Khan and MLC Dilip Chaudhary suggested senior leaders of the three coalition partners talk among themselves to hammer out a solution. Nitish Kumar heads a three-party coalition government which also includes the Congress. Amid reports of the BJP going soft on Nitish Kumar after the Tejashwi episode, Modi thanked the chief minister for his support to the NDA's presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind. "Nitish Kumar's support to the NDA nominee holds a lot of significance for which we thank him," he said, claiming that along with NDA and JD(U) MLAs, four Independents also voted for Kovind. Tejashwi, who was accompanied by RJD chief whip in the Assembly Lalit Yadav, also claimed 100 per cent voting by the RJD and Congress MLAs in favour of the UPA presidential nominee Meira Kumar. Three CPI(ML) MLAs have also voted for Meira Kumar.

Tejashwi Yadav dismisses BJP's calls for resignation

Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed the caveat in the Supreme Court of India, prempting Akhilesh&#39;s father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in case he decides to challenge the Election Commission order.

A day after India&#39;s Election Commission granted the disputed &#39;cycle&#39; symbol of the Samajwadi Party (SP) to Akhilesh Yadav, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister visited his father and SP founder Mulayam Singh at his residence, describing his ties with him as &quot;unbreakable.&quot;

Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90 per cent of the candidates in both lists were common. He said his priority was to form the SP government in the upcoming assembly elections in the state and that he would take his father along.

&quot;I will take Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) along...My relation with him is unbreakable. I was confident that I will get cycle (symbol). Little time is left. It&#39;s a big responsibility and I will take everyone with us,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;Over 90 per cent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon,&quot; Akhilesh told reporters during an informal chat at his Kalidas Marg residence in state capital Lucknow.

However, the Akhilesh faction led by his mentor and uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed a caveat in the top court asking it not to pass any order challenging the Election Commission order without hearing their side.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also went into a huddle with his advisors, including Upper House legislators Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal, strategising on an alliance with Congress, RLD and JD(U) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

SP sources said the list of party candidates will be released in a day or two.

There were reports that the three parties could come out with a common minimum programme.

While Akhilesh said in Lucknow that a decision on the alliance will be made in a day or two, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad confirmed his party would ally with the SP in the upcoming UP elections.&nbsp;

&quot;The decision on alliance (with Congress) will be taken in a day or two,&quot; Akhilesh told journalists in Lucknow. His uncle and party strategist Ramgopal Yadav hoped a grand secular alliance would be in place for polls.&nbsp;

&quot;I am confident that the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh,&quot; All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told the press in New Delhi.

Party coordinator for UP Meem Afzal said, &quot;Congress will have an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The details of the arrangement will be announced in the next two days.&quot;

The Congress is yet to officially announce the SP alliance and seat-sharing agreement although an announcement is expected soon. Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, had earlier said that she would withdraw as the Congress&#39; chief ministerial candidate if her party enters into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in the state.

The poll process kicked off today with a notification being issued for the first phase of polling on February 11.

Before the poll panel settled the dispute between the warring factions in Akhilesh&#39;s favour, Mulayam had rejected all suggestions of a tie-up with the Congress despite Akhilesh saying that an alliance between the two could fetch 300 of the state&#39;s 403 seats.

According to SP sources, the party will keep the majority of over 250 seats with itself. Congress was being offered around 90-100 seats by the SP, which was also said to be trying to rope in Ajit Singh&#39;s RLD. Rashtriya Lok Dal has pockets of influence in western UP which goes to polls in the first two phases on February 11 and 15.

Ramgopal Yadav and Ghulam Nabi Azad are reportedly in talks to iron out differences over seat sharing between the two parties.

Party sources said the list would be prepared keeping in mind the possible alliance with Congress as nomination for first phase has already begun.

Mulayam Singh, meanwhile, stayed put at his bungalow, hardly a stone&#39;s throw away from that of Akhilesh. Shivpal Yadav and a few other loyalists like Ambika Chowdhury met him during the day.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90% of the candidates in both lists were common

Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed the caveat in the Supreme Court of India, prempting Akhilesh's father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in case he decides to challenge the Election Commission order. A day after India's Election Commission granted the disputed 'cycle' symbol of the Samajwadi Party (SP) to Akhilesh Yadav, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister visited his father and SP founder Mulayam Singh at his residence, describing his ties with him as "unbreakable." Akhilesh, who was reportedly given a list of about 40 candidates by Mulayam Singh, said over 90 per cent of the candidates in both lists were common. He said his priority was to form the SP government in the upcoming assembly elections in the state and that he would take his father along. "I will take Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) along...My relation with him is unbreakable. I was confident that I will get cycle (symbol). Little time is left. It's a big responsibility and I will take everyone with us," he said. "Over 90 per cent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon," Akhilesh told reporters during an informal chat at his Kalidas Marg residence in state capital Lucknow. However, the Akhilesh faction led by his mentor and uncle Ramgopal Yadav filed a caveat in the top court asking it not to pass any order challenging the Election Commission order without hearing their side. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also went into a huddle with his advisors, including Upper House legislators Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal, strategising on an alliance with Congress, RLD and JD(U) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. SP sources said the list of party candidates will be released in a day or two. There were reports that the three parties could come out with a common minimum programme. While Akhilesh said in Lucknow that a decision on the alliance will be made in a day or two, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad confirmed his party would ally with the SP in the upcoming UP elections. "The decision on alliance (with Congress) will be taken in a day or two," Akhilesh told journalists in Lucknow. His uncle and party strategist Ramgopal Yadav hoped a grand secular alliance would be in place for polls. "I am confident that the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will form the next government in Uttar Pradesh," All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad told the press in New Delhi. Party coordinator for UP Meem Afzal said, "Congress will have an alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The details of the arrangement will be announced in the next two days." The Congress is yet to officially announce the SP alliance and seat-sharing agreement although an announcement is expected soon. Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, had earlier said that she would withdraw as the Congress' chief ministerial candidate if her party enters into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in the state. The poll process kicked off today with a notification being issued for the first phase of polling on February 11. Before the poll panel settled the dispute between the warring factions in Akhilesh's favour, Mulayam had rejected all suggestions of a tie-up with the Congress despite Akhilesh saying that an alliance between the two could fetch 300 of the state's 403 seats. According to SP sources, the party will keep the majority of over 250 seats with itself. Congress was being offered around 90-100 seats by the SP, which was also said to be trying to rope in Ajit Singh's RLD. Rashtriya Lok Dal has pockets of influence in western UP which goes to polls in the first two phases on February 11 and 15. Ramgopal Yadav and Ghulam Nabi Azad are reportedly in talks to iron out differences over seat sharing between the two parties. Party sources said the list would be prepared keeping in mind the possible alliance with Congress as nomination for first phase has already begun. Mulayam Singh, meanwhile, stayed put at his bungalow, hardly a stone's throw away from that of Akhilesh. Shivpal Yadav and a few other loyalists like Ambika Chowdhury met him during the day. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Ties with Mulayam Singh unbreakable, will take him along: Akhilesh's olive branch to father ahead of polls

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