"This is not even an issue": Tejashwi Yadav after AIMIM's MP Owasi targets RJD leader over 'extremist' jibe

Patna (Bihar) [India], November 4 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday refused to say anything further on his "extremist" remark for the AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that it is a "non-issue."
Addressing a press conference today on the last day of election campaigning for Bihar Assembly polls, whose first phase is slated on November 6, the Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial face said, "This is not an issue right now.
Tejashwi Yadav was responding to queries by mediapersons on Owaisi's post on social media X in which the AIMIM had posted a purported clip of the RJD leader saying that there is "no space for extremist" within the Mahagathbandhan, when asked by a journalist why the alliance won't welcome him into the alliance.
"Extremists have no space here (in alliance)," Yadav is heard telling the journalist in the clip posted by Owaisi on X.
On November 2, Owaisi replied to the alleged remarks, saying "Today an interviewer asked Tejashwi Yadav why he didn't align with Owaisi. Tejashwi said that Owaisi is an extremist, a fanatic, a terrorist... I ask Tejashwi, 'babu extremist ko tum zara angrezi mein likh ke batatdo'... He calls me an extremist because I follow my religion with pride."
He made these comments while addressing a rally in Kishanganj.
AIMIM is contesting 25 seats in the Bihar assembly polls, putting up candidates in Joklhat, Araria, Gauura Bauram, Barari and other constituencies.
While Owaisi has called for all "secular forces" to come together to defeat the BJP and alliance leaders, he has not been invited to the Mahagathbandhan alliance, with his party contesting the polls independently.
The 2025 Bihar Elections will see a National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan contesting against each other. With Jan Suraaj Party staking a claim to all 343 constituencies, AIMIM is also looking to win around 25 seats.
The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP.
The assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held on November 6 and 11, respectively, while the results will be declared on November 14. (ANI)