Raghuvansh Prasad downplays Shahabuddin's swipe at Nitish

Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Sunday downplayed Shahabuddin's assertion that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is a leader of circumstances and said that a decision in this regard was taken unitedly by members of the grand alliance.

Commenting on the gangster-turned politician's allegiance to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav soon after his release, Singh said the people do praise their leaders.

"The members of the grand alliance took a call on Nitish Kumar as their chief ministerial candidate. The leaders had already decided. So, we had to agree," he said.

The RJD leader also called for a national alternative to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"We are making all attempts to ensure that there is a national alternative in the country and all secular parties must come on board for the same both at the state and central level. The BJP will be defeated if all the secular parties come together," he added.

The former MP also criticized the BJP for playing politics over Shahabuddin's release.

"Judiciary has in all wisdom granted him bail. Many people are given bail, convicted and are even released for their criminal acts.If they (BJP) are making hue and cry over the same then it makes no sense," he added.

Shahabuddin, who yesterday walked out after 11 years in jail, said that Nitish is a leader of circumstances.

The four-term former MP from Siwan while commenting on the present grand alliance government in Bihar said that his leader is RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.