Bihar Cabinet meet today: Will Nitish Kumar ask scam-tainted Tejashwi Yadav to quit?

Patna: With ties between the Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) appearing to wobble over Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, speculations are rife that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may make a big announcement during a cabinet meeting that is scheduled to take place today. 

Sources within the JD(U) that Nitish is known to maintain a tough stance when it comes to corruption and since Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi was named by CBI in a disproportionate assets case, the Bihar Chief Minister has on several occasions indicated that he expected the latter to resign from the post.

The rift in the Bihar ruling grand alliance deepened when Lalu apparently rejected Nitish's demand, and said, "Tejashwi Yadav will not step down under any circumstances."

Earlier, speaking to ANI JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said that a situation has come where RJD has to take a decision keeping in mind their party's sentiments.

This came after Tejashwi skipped an official function on July 15 which he was supposed to attend with CM Nitish, triggering speculation that the festering acrimony between the JD(U) and the RJD had reached a flash point in the wake of a FIR being registered by the CBI against the deputy chief minister in the land-for-hotels case.

On Monday, Tejashwi dismissed questions about the growing chorus for his resignation as nothing but a 'media speculation'. He maintained that all is well as long as the alliance with JD(U) is concerned.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi; former Indian Railway Catering and Tourism

Corporation (IRCTC) Managing Director P.K. Goyal; and the wife of Lalu's confidante Prem Chand Gupta, Sujata on allegations of awarding the tender for development,

maintenance and operation of hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006.

The CBI later questioned Rabri Devi and Tejashwi.