After the video released, Kushwaha reportedly resigned.
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“I have sent in my resignation after talking to the Chief Minister after allegations of accepting Rs 4 lakh cropped up”, Kushwaha said. The authenticity of video is yet to be established but JD(U) said it believes that the “sting operation is true”. MSME Minister Giriraj Singh said that Kushwaha is just a small fish in the pond and that the bigger fish is yet to be caught.
It is also not clear in the video that who is giving the alleged bribe.
Following the dramatic resignation of Bihar cabinet minister Awadhesh Kushwaha over graft charges, the Election Commission on Monday ordered the District Magistrate to probe into the alleged sting tape, which showed the minister accepting bribe.
JD-U national president Sharad Yadav told reporters that Kushwaha’s resignation has been received and forwarded to the Governor for acceptance.
Taking a high moral ground on the promptness with which the party acted on the bribery allegations, Sharad Yadav said, “Look at the BJP, whether it was the Vyapam Scam, Lalitgate or Sushma Swaraj’s matter, that party did not take any action”.
The episode has come as a huge embarrassment for CM Nitish Kumar at a time when the state is voting in the first phase of the 5-phased Assembly elections.
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Voting will start from 7am.
