BJP will be shocked by election results: Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

PATNA: Leader of the opposition and former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav talks to TOI’s Sheezan Nezami. Excerpts:
How confident are you of winning the election this time?
Very confident. The NDA government has been all about event management, media management and raising fake issues at the cost of the aspirations of the people. NDA made many promises during the 2014 election, but delivered nothing.The election results on May 23 will be a shocker for the saffron party.
Who would be the face of the Grand Alliance in Bihar?
Congress is a national party and Rahul Gandhi, as its president, should be the face of the alliance.
There is a sense of dejection in the Congress camp because they have been given only nine seats.
Every alliance partner would want the maximum number of seats. Winning the seat has to be taken into account. In the last LS election, we had 27 nominees and Congress 12. This time we have 19 and Congress nine.
Are you not missing Lalu-ji?
Every one of us, including the media, is missing Lalu ji. I would say he is more of an institution and we are students of that institution. Lalu-ji himself is an ideology, a science, a puzzle that cannot be cracked by rivals and adversaries. His guidance and views will help us make the right moves at the right time.
How would you react to Nitish Kumar’s accusation that Lalu-ji is participating in active politics over phone from prison?
Anant Singh has told everyone that Nitish Kumar used to call him from his close confidante, Lalan Singh’s phone when Anant was in jail. Nitish Kumar is trying to hide his dismal performance by saying Lalu-ji is actively involved in politics.
How do you see your party and its partners performing in the election?
We will win. NDA will receive a major drubbing from us. BJP has actually made a blunder by giving 17 seats to Nitish Kumar.
Is it true that Lalu-ji has advised Shatrughan Sinha to join Congress?
Shatrughan Sinha-ji is our family friend. He was welcomed by both Congress and RJD. He joined Congress in consultation with my dad.
Pappu Yadav is accusing you of not letting him get a ticket.
I don’t pay any attention to a person who is a pawn of BJP. He is working against Congress candidates in Kishanganj and Purnia and Mahagathbandhan candidates in Madhepura and Begusarai.
Why was Kanhaiya Kumar’s candidature not supported by RJD?
We have no alliance with CPI. We cannot ignore the commendable performance of our candidate there, Tanvir Hasan-ji in previous elections. Across the country, there are very few seats for minority candidates to contest from. He is a winning candidate.
Your elder brother, Tej Pratap, has formed the Lalu-Rabri Morcha. Will it not create confusion?
In a democracy, everyone has a right to express himself. This is a family matter and I do not want to comment. He has already said he is with the party and not with any other group or party.
Why is Misa Bharti missing from the list of star campaigners?
Misa-ji herself said she wants to concentrate on her constituency, Patliputra. Moreover, the names of star campaigners have been decided phase-wise.
Is it true that Nitish Kumar tried to return to the Mahagathbandhan six months after forming the government with BJP in 2017?
Yes, it is true. Within six months of joining NDA, Nitish chacha tried to return to the Mahagathbandhan. He approached through various mediums. He tried to lure us with many promises. He had already betrayed the mandate and so how could we believe him? Given his zero credibility, and plummeting popularity among the people of Bihar, we didn’t find it wise. Can anyone in BJP guarantee that he won’t switch sides after the election?