Blend Karpoori’s ideals with Lalu’s vision: Tejashwi to cadre

Patna: RJD working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Tuesday called upon party workers to integrate the thoughts of former CM and socialist icon Karpoori Thakur with those of RJD national president and former chief minister Lalu Prasad to work for the uplift of poor and deprived sections under the ideological pillars of social justice and secularism.Tejashwi, who is also leader of opposition in the state assembly, was addressing a function at the party’s state headquarters to mark the 38th death anniversary of Thakur, a Bharat Ratna awardee.Launching a sharp attack on the NDA govt led by CM Nitish Kumar, he said, “Those elected by the people are not getting proper hearing. It is the corrupt who are running the government. Only four days are left for the 100-day reprieve I gave to the present government. After its expiry, I will speak and inform the people about what all they have done and are doing.”Emphasising ideological unity, he said, “We have to take the thoughts of Karpoori Thakur to Delhi. To strengthen and spread the ideological planks of social justice and secularism, it is necessary that we, and all our party functionaries and members, work on the path shown by the two, and fight strongly for the rights, honour, dignity and cause of the poor and deprived sections.”He added, “Today, not only the rights of the poor are being snatched away from them, but also the Constitution, constitutional institutions and democracy have been endangered, leading to the increased oppression on the poor and deprived sections.”Stating that he had not personally seen Thakur, Tejashwi said his father Lalu Prasad and mother Rabri Devi had shared their memories of him, strengthening his faith and resolve.“My mother told me that as and when Thakur visited them, they used to hear him speak with interest. It is my firm belief that the thoughts of Thakur should be taken to every household,” he said, adding that Lalu had been implicated in cases under a “conspiracy” but had not compromised on secular principles.He also criticised alleged manoeuvres ahead of the 2025 assembly elections aimed at demoralising RJD supporters, noting that the party secured 1.90 crore votes despite such efforts. “We will work to strengthen the party both in and outside Bihar,” Tejashwi said.On the occasion, state RJD chief Mangani Lal Mandal, former assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary and senior leaders including Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Ram Chandra Purbey, Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, Kanti Singh and Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav expressed support for his call.