Nitish Kumar indulging in 'horse trading', alleges BJP

BJP today accused Nitish Kumar of indulging in "horse trading" in his bid to become the chief minister of Bihar and claimed he has no faith in constitutional authorities or his own MLAs.
The party also washed its hands off the current political situation in Bihar terming it is an "internal matter of JD-U" but added it has "all its options open" and will decide on the floor of the Assembly whether to support Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi or not when the matter is taken up.
"No one is a bigger horse-trader than Nitish Kumar. He has been indulging in such activities earlier too. He has no faith in constitutional authorities or his own MLAs whose support he is claiming himself to be become the Chief Minister. He should wait for the Governor's decision," BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said after Kumar brought his MLAs to Delhi.

He said Kumar is trying to project as if he paraded the MLAs before the President. "That is not so," he said.
Former deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi also accused Kumar of being "a master of horse trading" and termed the parading of MLAs in Delhi as "a political drama".
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav accused Kumar and Lalu Prasad of playing "dirty politics" and said Kumar who is "chasing" the Chief Minister's chair, should learn to respect constitutional authorities.

Attacking the JD(U) leader for being responsible for the current situation, Hussain said it is due to his "craving for power" which has turned him from being the "PM-in-waiting" to a "CM-in-waiting" now.

He said Kumar should wait for the decision of the Governor who will act according to constitutional provisions and law, and not point fingers at a constitutional authority.
"BJP feels that the state assembly has been convened on February 20 and Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi will have to prove his majority on the floor of the House. BJP expects that Nitish Kumar should have faith on constitutional authorities and wait.
"He is craving to become the Chief Minister and seems to be in a hurry. When Manjhi will be asked to prove his majority, BJP will take its decision on the floor of the House. BJP has all its options open," Hussain said.