Lalu Prasad Takes Aim at Nitish Kumar’s Women-Centric Yatra, Sparks Controversy

Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad has stirred controversy with his remarks on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Mahila Samvad Yatra. Taking a swipe at the CM, Lalu said, “It’s good that you are going on a tour. You are going to warm your eyes.” Responding to Nitish Kumar’s ambitious claim of winning 225 seats in the 2025 state elections, the former chief minister remarked, “First, warm your eyes. A grand alliance government will be formed in Bihar.”

Lalu also weighed in on the leadership of the INDIA bloc, suggesting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the alliance’s leader. “Mamata should be made the leader of the INDIA alliance. Congress’s opposition holds no meaning,” he stated.

The comments have sparked strong reactions, particularly from Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP. JD(U) national executive president Sanjay Jha condemned Lalu’s remarks, calling them disrespectful to women. “Such a poor perspective about half the population. No amount of condemnation is enough for this shameful statement from an INDIA alliance leader. We are proud of Nitish Kumar, whose historic decisions have made Bihar an example of women empowerment,” Jha said.

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary also criticized Lalu’s comments, describing them as “unfortunate.” He said, “Nitish Kumar is engaging directly with women, and the kind of language Lalu ji has used is concerning. Earlier, we thought he was physically unwell. Now it seems he is mentally unwell and needs treatment.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh, speaking to the media in Delhi, took aim at both Lalu Prasad and Mamata Banerjee. “Lalu Prasad Yadav has always been selfish. As for the leadership of the INDIA bloc, who is Mamata Banerjee? She wants to turn West Bengal into Bangladesh,” he said.

BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal dismissed Lalu’s statements, saying, “Lalu Prasad Yadav is insulting women. His comments reflect his mindset, but we don’t take him seriously.”

JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar also lashed out at the RJD supremo. “Lalu ji, why don’t you show your eyes to the Congress instead? How dare you show them to Nitish Kumar? The reality is that when you were in jail, your body was imprisoned in Hotwar, but your intellect was confined to Charwaha Vidyalaya,” he quipped.

The row over Lalu’s remarks comes as Nitish Kumar continues his Mahila Samvad Yatra, a campaign aimed at engaging with women across Bihar and promoting women-centric policies. The program is widely seen as a key strategy for the JD(U) ahead of the 2025 assembly elections.