india

Updated: May 27, 2019 23:18 IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator Maheshwar Prasad Yadav on Monday asked party leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav to step down from the post of the leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly, owning moral responsibility for the RJDs’s complete rout in the Lok Sabha polls, or face a split in the party.

“If those entrusted with the task of steering the party to victory fail to quit on moral grounds, the party may will be heading for an imminent split,” said the MLA from Gaighat constituency in Muzaffarpur district.

Maheshwar, a four-term MLA, said he had been raising the issue of keeping party posts free from family rule and supporting appointments based on seniority.

“I opposed Rabri Devi’s elevation to the post of chief minister in 1997 and also Tejashwi’s appointment. Though my voice was not heard, people have rejected ‘parivarwaad’ (family politics),” he said.

Also read: In its zero hour, RJD leaders talk of cutting ties with Congress

Asking Tejashwi to take a cue from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, to facilitate the elevation of a senior non-Yadav leader, he said the move would help the party shed the tag of Yadav-dominated outfit. Gandhi offered to step down from his post in the wake of his party’s dismal performance in the polls, but the proposal was rejected by the party’s highest decision making.

The National Democratic Alliance in Bihar comprising Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party won 39 out of the 40 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

The RJD leadership has convened a two-day meeting, beginning Tuesday, to discuss reasons for its worst ever poll debacle.

The rebel MLA, however, indicated he would not attend the meeting till his demand was addressed.

To a question whether he had the support of two-thirds of MLAs to beat the anti-defection law, Maheshwar replied in the affirmative. He, however, denied spelling out the numbers or names at this juncture. “Rest assured that no one is willing to stay on a sinking ship. The number of those feeling suffocated is quite large.”