Lalu Yadav acting like 'super CM' of Bihar, says BJP

Patna/Darbhanga: RJD president Lalu Prasad's call to Darbhanga civil surgeon directing him to reappoint a group of Mamata health workers has triggered controversy with the BJP accusing him of acting like "Super CM".

After a group of women Mamata health workers, who look after newborns in hospitals, recently met Prasad seeking reappointment in the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), he is said to have called up the Darbhanga Civil Surgeon in this regard.

Soon after the call the Civil Surgeon allegedly wrote a letter to DMCH Superintendent to act on the instruction and reappoint the women health workers. He also sent a copy to senior officers in state health department. When contacted, the Darbhanga Civil Surgeon refused to comment and told PTI "there is nothing in this."

When asked for comments on the issue, Prasad, whose son Tej Pratap Yadav is state health minister, said several workers meet him and it was his duty "to help them on their genuine demand".

He also admitted of calling up Darbhanga for the Mamata workers and said he was not taking any notice of the BJP allegations. State BJP chief spokesman Binod Narayan Jha, however, said "Bihar has two CMs. One is Nitish Kumar who has been administered oath by the Governor and another is RJD chief Lalu Prasad who is acting like a super CM."

Former chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi also took potshots at Nitish Kumar and asked him to tender resignation "to escape humiliation in the hands of Lalu Prasad." Prasad's younger son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav said his father was running a political party and there was nothing wrong to act in solving genuine problems of people.

Seeking to turn the tables on BJP, Tejaswi asked, "in what capacity BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi inaugurates Railway station on behalf of Railway Minister?" Reacting on the issue, JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said, "Leaders in public life have the right to raise issues concerning the common man. Laluji is a leader of a partner party hence, there is nothing wrong in taking up people's problems."

Another JD(U) spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad echoed similar views saying "there has been no violation of protocol by chief of a partner party raising issues of masses."