Vice president election: Sonia, Rahul call Nitish to thank him

PATNA: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi called Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and thanked him for supporting Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the opposition’s vice-presidential candidate in the election to be held on August 5.

Sources said while Rahul called Nitish on Tuesday evening, his mother called the JD (U) president on Wednesday morning.

“Rahul conveyed his happiness to Nitish over his party’s decision to support Gopalkrishna. The two leaders also decided that they would meet whenever Nitish is in Delhi next,” JD (U) secretary general

K C Tyagi

told TOI.

Sonia had a brief conversation with Nitish. “They exchanged greetings and Sonia thanked Nitish,” said Tyagi.

Asked if they also discussed the ongoing political developments in Bihar following CBI raids against RJD president Lalu Prasad and his family, Tyagi said neither Sonia nor Rahul broached the topic.

The CBI raids on July 7 pertained to alleged transfer of three acres of land to a firm of Lalu family by a hotelier in lieu of getting a contract to run two IRCTC hotels during Lalu’s tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009.

The CBI’s FIR lodged on July 5 also has Lalu’s son and deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s name as one of the accused. The opposition has mounted pressure on Nitish to sack Tejashwi.

The sources said Gopalkrishna also called Nitish to thank him for announcing support to him.