Remember this historic picture? The one where anti corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal hugged the RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav, convict in the Rs. 900 crore fodder scam?
Arvind Kejriwal had extended support to “mahagathbandhan” where he asked everyone to vote for the gathbandhan. Essentially that would mean voting for Lalu Yadav, only because he was against the BJP. Way to show your commitment towards fight against corruption by embracing a convict in corruption case.
Anyway, fast forward to 2017, the “mahagathbandhan” has disintegrated. On 26th July, Nitish Kumar quit as Bihar Chief Minister, few hours later staked claim to form the government, and on 27th July, swore in as the chief minister of Bihar.
Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar’s deputy chief minister and Lalu’s son, was upset at the whole thing as Bihar had a new government even before he could stake claim to form one. Tejashwi is also facing corruption charges as CBI has filed an FIR against him and his parents.
So, as a retaliation, RJD announced “BJP Hatao, Desh Bachao” rally on 27th August where he called all opposition parties to come together and fight against the BJP. From Mayawati to Akhilesh Yadav to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Congress President Sonia Gandhi were invited. All opposition, except Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, despite his very vocal dislike for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This is second time Kejriwal has been not even considered credible enough to be in opposition. Earlier, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, too, had gave Kejriwal a royal ignore while discussing Presidential candidate.
However, in an passive aggressive reaction, the next day Arvind Kejriwal retweeted Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav’s tweets, extending his support to the BJP Hatao cause.
But it seems like Lalu family hasn’t forgotten how Kejriwal had washed his hands off the hug. After Kejriwal drew criticism over hugging Lalu in that rally, Kejriwal had said how it wasn’t him who hugged Lalu, but the other way round. “We are against his record of corruption and we’ll always oppose it,” Kejriwal told his supporters after hugging Lalu. No wonder neither Lalu nor Tejashwi wished him on winning the Bawana bypolls.
Even his anti-Modi stance hasn’t helped Arvind Kejriwal get back into Lalu Yadav’s good books.
