BJP targets Nitish says it acted as a 'responsible' opposition in Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the whole story in Bihar has been scripted by the ego of Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and said that it had acted as a 'responsible' opposition in the state.

"It is an irony that the Janata Dal (United) is pointing a finger towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). But it is natural that as a responsible opposition in Bihar, the BJP should keep an eye on the political situation in Bihar and that is what we are doing," party spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI.

"As far as Manjhi [Jitan Ram Manjhi] and Nitish Kumar are concerned, the whole story in Bihar has been scripted by the ego of Nitish Kumar. It has not been scripted by anyone else and that is quite evident," he said.

Patra further said Nitish is insulting the Mahadalit community in Bihar by asking Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to step down from his post.

"Nitish Kumar wanted to be the PM once upon a time and got away from the BJP, got a Mahadalit on board saying that he wants to project the interests of the Mahadalit. But he wanted the Mahadalit only to be a rubber stamp of him and today he is insulting the Mahadalit community of Bihar. This is really despicable and this is really something which Nitish Kumar should feel sorry about," he added.

JD (U) leader K.C. Tyagi earlier in the day alleged that the crisis in Bihar was scripted in Delhi and had the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Bihar crisis was scripted in Delhi. Operation Jitan Ram Manjhi has been engineered by (BJP chief) Amit Shah and it has PM Modi's blessings. Yesterday, the tone that Manjhi had used after meeting the PM cannot be that of a minority chief minister," said Tyagi.

Tyagi further said that his party would point out to Bihar Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi that incumbent Jitan Ram Manjhi does not enjoy the majority support.

Manjhi, who has refused to resign as the Bihar Chief Minister, was earlier in the day expelled by JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav.

The action against Manjhi, who had earlier on Sunday met Prime Minister Modi in the national capital, came after the JD (U) accused him of anti-party activities.

In the 243 member Bihar Assembly, the JD (U) has 111 MLAs, BJP 87, RJD 24, Congress five besides five independents, while ten seats are vacant.

With the present effective strength of the assembly at 233, the magic majority figure is 117.