Sonia meets Lalu in Delhi; Tejashwi shares photos, reminisces UPA-era tie

NEW DELHI: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi met RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav at the residence of his daughter, Misa Bharti, in New Delhi on Monday and enquired about his health as he continues to undergo treatment at AIIMS in the national capital.Lalu Prasad was recently brought to Delhi for specialised medical consultations after receiving treatment and remaining under observation at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna.His condition is currently stable, according to family members.Tejashwi Yadav, on social media platform X, recalled the political association between Sonia Gandhi and his father during the UPA government (2004-2014).He highlighted welfare initiatives undertaken during that period for farmers, young people, soldiers and the common public, as well as key legislations such as MGNREGA, the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Right to Information (RTI) Act.He also pointed out that the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government had allocated more than Rs 1.45 lakh crore for Bihar's development.The Bihar leader of the opposition said Sonia Gandhi, whose memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love", is scheduled for release on November 10, had personally expressed a desire to meet his father after learning that he was in Delhi for a medical check-up."Lalu Prasad had come to Delhi for his routine medical check-up.

I also met Sonia Gandhi and informed her about this. She herself expressed a desire to meet Lalu Prasad, which is why she visited him today. Lalu Prasad and Sonia Gandhi have shared a good relationship from the very beginning. They have stood by and supported each other during difficult circumstances. Our family and the Gandhi family have also shared a longstanding relationship.

The purpose of today's meeting was to enquire about Lalu Prasad's health. They had not met for a long time, which is why they met today," Tejashwi wrote on X in Hindi.Lalu Yadav also posted about this meet with Sonia Gandhi on X, writing: "It was recalled how, during the days of the UPA government, we implemented transparent and public welfare schemes for the youth, farmers, soldiers, and the common man, and how the countrymen were empowered through laws like MGNREGA, RTE, and RTI.

Under the leadership of Sardar Manmohan Singh ji, how we provided more than 1 lakh 45 thousand crore rupees for the development of Bihar."Tejashwi also spoke about the INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, saying opposition parties would need to remain united to take on the challenges facing the country.He said the gathering was not the end of the campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and insisted that the opposition would continue pressing for action against him."We will not win this battle unless we stand united.

We did gather yesterday, but that was not the final event. We are not the kind of people who will sit quietly until action is taken against Gyanesh Kumar," he said.The RJD leader also hit back at the BJP for describing the opposition rally as a failure. Questioning the ruling party's reaction, he alleged that the rally had unsettled the BJP."Why are they so nervous? If the rally had been a flop, why would there be any need to prove it was a flop?

They know that there is unease and turmoil. They are troubled and disappointed because their theft has been exposed," he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.