Sonia Gandhi meets Lalu Yadav to enquire about health (Img: X)
New Delhi: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi met RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav at the New Delhi residence of his daughter, Misa Bharti, on Monday. She enquired about his health as he continues to receive treatment at AIIMS.
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 stable, according to family members.
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, recalled the political association between Sonia Gandhi and his father during the UPA government from 2004 to 2014.
He highlighted welfare measures introduced during that period for farmers, young people, soldiers and the common public, along with key legislations such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Tejashwi also noted that the government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had allocated more than Rs 1.45 lakh crore for Bihar’s development.
He said Sonia Gandhi, whose memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love" is scheduled to be released on November 10, had 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 Prasad also posted about the meeting on X, recalling the UPA government’s welfare initiatives and legislation.
"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."
आदरणीय मैडम श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी ने आवास पहुँच स्वास्थ्य संबंधी जानकारी प्राप्त की। इस दौरान पुराने दिनों की यादें ताजा हुई।
स्मरण किया कि कैसे UPA सरकार के दिनों में हम लोगों ने युवाओं, किसानों, जवानों और आम आदमी के लिए पारदर्शी व जनकल्याणकारी योजनाएं लागू की तथा मनरेगा, RTE, RTI जैसी कानूनों से देशवासियों को सशक्त किया गया। सरदार मनमोहन सिंह जी के नेतृत्व में बिहार के विकास के लिए हम लोगों ने कैसे 1 लाख 45 हज़ार करोड़ से अधिक की धनराशि दी।
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) November 2, 2026
Tejashwi also referred to the INDIA bloc rally held at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, saying opposition parties would have to remain united to confront the challenges facing the country.
He said the gathering was not the final event in the opposition’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, adding that the parties would continue to press 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.
RJD leader hits back at BJP over rally criticism
The RJD leader also responded to the BJP’s description of the opposition rally as a failure, alleging that the gathering had unsettled the ruling party.
आदरणीय राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @laluprasadrjd जी से आदरणीय श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी ने मुलाक़ात की।
देश के दो सबसे अनुभवी नेताओं की यह मुलाकात पारिवारिक व आत्मीय रही। दोनों लंबे समय से एक दूसरे के सुख-दुख में मजबूती से एक साथ खड़े रहे है।
UPA की विकास गाथा पर उनके संघर्ष, संस्मरण, चिंतन और उपलब्धियों को सुनना और उससे सीखना मेरा सौभाग्य है। उनसे प्रेरणा मिलती है कि दृढ़ संकल्प और सही दिशा में की गई मेहनत हमेशा सकारात्मक परिणाम देती है।
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) November 2, 2026
"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.
