BJP says 'Jungle Raj' has returned to Bihar

BJP on Tuesday took potshots at Bihar's ruling alliance over a "free-for-all" following controversial RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin's release, saying "Jungle Raj" has returned to the state with development being a casualty.

BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh also hit out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, wondering what happed to his "so-called ideals" he claimed to stand for.

"Jungle Raj is not only back in Bihar after the release of Shahabuddin followed by grand celebrations but there is Jungle Raj in Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), too. It is a free-for-all between the two major partners RJD and JD(U) leaders.

"In this fight people of Bihar are suffering and in that process development is being thrown out of the window. Their leaders are making uncharitable remarks against each other but in reality their conduct has become uncharitable for Bihar," he said.

Alleging that the alliance partners — JD(U), RJD and Congress — were together for serving their own political interests, Singh attacked Kumar, saying he has "compromised his ideals to save his chair".

"Nitish Kumar has compromised all the values he once claimed to stand for only to remain the Chief Minister. Lalu Prasad is keen on remaining a partner in the alliance only to make his son the true Chief Minster, while Congress is there just for the sake of "Main Bhi Hu Na" (I am also there). BJP will raise its voice against this opportunistic alliance," he said.

The BJP leader said the "leadership crisis" was there because Lalu's RJD had more MLAs than Nitish Kumar's JD(U).

"Nitish may be the Chief Minister but Laloo and his men are fighting for the unofficial position of 'Super CM'," he said.

"Why should the people of Bihar suffer because of the fight among leaders within the grand alliance for supremacy?" he asked.