In a dig at the BJP over recent developments in Bihar, the Shiv Sena today said it seemed its ally had “made Pakistan happy” by aligning with Nitish Kumar.
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In his brief speech, Kumar said he followed coalition ethics and rebutted the charge that he betrayed people’s mandate, which his detractors claimed, was for the grand alliance.
The Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation have filed cases against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members for their alleged involvement in large-scale corruption.
He said no one can lecture him on secularism. Had Tejashwi Yadav tendered his resignation after allegations of corruption were levelled against him, the political dynamics in Bihar would have been completely different. If by forming new alliance with us, Nitishji is better able to implement developmental ideas in Bihar I am all for it.
Weakness: Represents Dynastic politics, known as reluctant politician, no grip on veteran party leaders (leaders left the Congress and joined BJP under his watch), lacks vision for India, silent on corruption.
Hitting out at Nitish for joining hands with the BJP, Rahul Gandhi alleged he returned to the “communal forces” for his selfish political motives. With JD (U)’s 71 MLAs and BJP-led NDA’s 58 MLAs, the JD (U)-NDA alliance had been expected to sail through the floor test.
If the party goes in for such an option, it would place party State president M.P. Veerendrakumar in a hard spot as he has been elected to the Rajya Sabha on the JD (U) ticket and would have to relinquish it if the national leadership issues a whip in Parliament. One BJP legislator, Mangal Pandey, failed to take oath as he was held up in Shimla in Himachal Pradesh due to bad weather.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh said Nitish’s move reflects his “double standards” and also asked, “Didn’t Nitish realise the credentials of Lalu Prasad when he took his support after he walked out of the NDA, and then again at the time of Bihar polls”.
Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar was uncomfortable sitting with Lalu’s family members, including state deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, who sits next to him at Cabinet meetings, senior minister Tej Pratap Yadav, and Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, who were accused of acquiring benami property worth INR 10 billion (EUR 194 million approximately) through unscrupulous means.
“My father was not in “Putra moh”, he was in “Bhai moh” (favouring a brother), that’s why he (Nitish Kumar) was elected as the Chief Minister”, Tejashwi Yadav said. Immediately, a Parliamentary Board was set up and, within an hour, they chose to ally with Nitish.
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A day after he was sworn in as Bihar chief minister for the sixth time, Janata Dal United, or JD (U), chief Nitish Kumar won the confidence vote in the Bihar Assembly on Friday. Mr Modi said Bihar would be put on high growth trajectory as the NDA was in power both at the Centre and also in the state.
