Patna: Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar lashed out at leaders of the state’s Mahagathbandhan alliance within the meeting constructing Monday, alleging that they had been in “contact with the BJP”.
Bihar’s ruling Mahagathbandhan is a coalition of the JD(U), the RJD, the Congress and different events.
RJD Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Sunil Kumar Singh advised ThePrint that Nitish misplaced his cool whereas speaking to him at a joint assembly of Mahagathbandhan leaders within the central corridor of the meeting, quickly after the beginning of the brief monsoon session Monday.
Nitish, he mentioned, had arrived to the meeting with RJD chief and deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.
“You get your self photographed with (BJP chief and Union dwelling minister) Amit Shah and make annd shand (baseless) statements right here,” the CM advised Singh.
Singh mentioned he advised Nitish that “he had performed nothing improper”, however the CM alleged that he had not been responding to his telephone calls and that he was involved with the BJP.
Later, Singh advised ThePrint that he hadn’t acquired any calls from Nitish. He added that he advised Nitish: “I’m like a member of the family of Laluji (RJD chief Lalu Prasad) and won’t depart them until my final breath.”
Listening to the altercation between the 2 leaders, Tejashwi rushed to Singh’s aspect and requested him to take a seat down. “I’ll look into the matter,” he mentioned, in keeping with Singh.
The RJD MLC, who can also be chairman of Bihar State Co-operative Advertising Union (BISCOMAUN), asserted the chief minister was making false fees in opposition to him.
“{A photograph} which is on my social media account with Amit Shah is of the all-India assembly of cooperative our bodies held earlier this month. Shah can also be minister of cooperation, and I attended the assembly as chairman of BISCOMAUN and felicitated him. It doesn’t quantity to having connections with the BJP,” he defined.
Nitish, in keeping with Singh, additionally focused his personal social gathering MLA and deputy speaker Maheshwar Hazari and Congress MLA Ajit Sharma on the assembly. “He advised them ‘I do know you might be involved with the BJP for a ticket’,” mentioned Singh.
When ThePrint contacted Hazari and Sharma for a touch upon the allegations, they neither confirmed nor denied the fees made by Nitish.
Singh mentioned that, on the assembly, Nitish additional alleged that the BJP had include Rs 200 crore to lure MLAs with and claimed he was conscious of each legislator’s transfer.
The reported outburst of the Bihar CM, who is thought to maintain a cool head at conferences and through interactions with rivals and allies, comes amid claims by the BJP {that a} revolt was afoot within the JD(U).
“CM Nitish Kumar, along with his indignant phrases, has solely confirmed what the BJP and its allies are claiming. It’s a signal of desperation,” a JD(U) MLA advised ThePrint.
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Confidant of RJD first household
Sunil Kumar Singh is claimed to be near Lalu and his household, a lot in order that Lalu’s spouse Rabri Devi ties him a rakhi yearly, and the RJD president’s final birthday was celebrated at Singh’s residence. Singh has additionally remained chairman of BISCOMAUN for one decade.
Throughout final week’s spat between Bihar schooling minister Chandrashekhar and his extra chief secretary Ok.Ok. Pathak, Singh had spoken out in opposition to Nitish.
“Each time Nitishji has to repair a minister, he sends officers like Pathak,” Singh remarked to the media Thursday, after which JD(U) leaders publicly criticised him.
Sources who attended Monday’s assembly advised ThePrint that a number of RJD leaders complained to Nitish about “untamed paperwork” in Bihar. “Each time I phone an officer, he doesn’t even acknowledge my greeting,” a senior RJD chief reportedly advised Nitish, leaving him red-faced.
RJD sources advised ThePrint that after Monday’s assembly of Mahagathbandhan leaders within the meeting, Lalu convened a separate assembly of RJD legislators in Patna.
Lalu, the sources mentioned, requested the legislators to not make any statements in opposition to an ally. “Our foremost motive must be to defeat the BJP,” the RJD chief reportedly insisted.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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