Sushil Modi attacks Kushwaha over tirade against Nitish, RSLP hits back

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday denied the charge by RLSP president Upendra Kushwaha that he was called "neech" (lowly person) by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"Nitish Kumar never used the word NEECH against any leader in his interaction with the media. I was present at the programme. Still some people are trying to become martyr, but will not succeed," Modi tweeted.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was referring to a programme held here by a private news channel on November 4.

At the function, in response to a query about seat-sharing among NDA allies in the state and Kushwaha's reservations about it, Kumar had said: "Do not lower the level of discourse so much."

Kushwaha had construed this as him having been called a "lowly person" by Kumar.

 

Reacting to Modi's tweet, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) spokesperson Madhaw Anand alleged that the deputy chief minister was playing the role of a counsel "who did not charge a fee".

"Honourable Deputy Chief Minister, do not think the people of Bihar are so naive that they are incapable of comprehending the hidden meaning of a statement. You are requested, with folded hands, to focus on solving problems of the people of Bihar instead of becoming a counsel who does not charge a fee," Anand posted on Twitter.

Another NDA ally, the Lok Janshakti Party, also asserted that Nitish Kumar cannot make any inappropriate remark against anyone.

"I do not think Nitish Kumar can make any inappropriate remark against anybody. Moreover, Kushwaha must not go public with every grievance that he has with other NDA partners. He should look at Kumar's JDU. It has not spoken a word on his allegations," LJP leader Chirag Paswan told reporters.

Kushwaha on Sunday met Chirag's father and LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan in a bid to solicit the latter's support on the issues of seat-sharing and Kumar's alleged remark.

Kushwaha has reportedly been peeved after the and the Janata Dal (United) decided to contest an equal number of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Bihar.

The state sends 40 members to the Parliament and after the BJP-JDU deal, there is speculation that this would mean fewer seats for other allies like the RLSP and the LJP.