Bihar deadlock: NCP backs Nitish, takes on BJP

Asserting that the latest political development in Bihar clearly indicates the entire script has been written in Delhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar on Sunday said it seems Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has got an order from the Centre or instruction from the BJP.

Anwar said this had become evident the very day when Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi came to Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"After the meeting he addressed the press, this clearly indicated that he got a briefing from the Prime Minister. And on his (Prime Minister) behest, the Governor gave him (Manjhi) time till the 20th and gave him enough time to strike a deal with the MLAs," he added.

Anwar further said the Bihar Governor's earlier track record has also not been impressive.

"I have said this earlier also, as far as the Governor is concerned his track record has not been good. When he was the Speaker of Uttar Pradesh, even at that time he had made some disputed decision," said Anwar.

"The way he has given ample time to Manjhi, it seems as if he has got an order from the Centre or instruction from the BJP. There is some mystery hidden behind all this," he added while commenting on allegations levelled by Janata Dal (United) that the Bihar Governor is playing a script prepared in Delhi.

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar had earlier accused Prime Minister Modi and the BJP of 'attempting to throttle democracy'.

Kumar also alleged that the Bihar Governor's decision to ask Manjhi to prove his majority in the state assembly on February 20 has been scripted in Delhi and is designed to 'allow horse-trading of MLAs'.

Kumar, who is engaged in an intense tussle with Manjhi - the man he picked nine months ago to be the chief minister when he resigned after his party's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls -, had earlier this week met President Pranab Mukherjee to convey the support of 130 MLAs.

Kumar, who was accompanied by JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, took the 130 MLAs to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to show that he enjoys majority support in the Bihar Assembly.

Meanwhile, Manjhi, who, is engaged in a grim battle for political survival, on Saturday included Dusadh caste in the mahadalit category in a bid to expand his base.