As RJD-Nitish rift widens, Sharad Yadav meets Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: In the midst of heightened political crisis in the Mahagathbandhan - Grand Alliance - in Bihar and a day after the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had said his son Tejashwi Yadav will not resign, senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav today met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi here. However, sources did not divulge details on what transpired at the meeting that was held at the residence of Congress President.

Nitish Kumar-headed JD(U)-RJD and Congress alliance has run into major row with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi's name figuring in a corruption case. The JD(U) leadership and especially the Chief Minister has indicated that Mr Tesjashi should resign but the RJD has turned down the demand. Lalu Prasad yesterday said his son will not resign. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar's detractors - the BJP and also LJP have been trying to mount pressure on Nitish Kumar to act against the Chief Minister.

The JD(U) leaders have so far said while Nitish Kumar's stance about corruption is well known - there was no immediate threat to the Grand Alliance. However, a section of JD(U) leaders are not happy with the manner RJD has conducted itself. The BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has said in fact the RJD has challenged the authority of the Chief Minister by threatening that all ministers from the party would resign in the event of Tejashwi Yadav has to tender his resignation. Mr Tejashwi has been named by the CBI as an accused in its probe into the land-for-hotels scam case. (UNI)