The faction marred JD(U)’s top leader and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday tried to douse down the fire triggered by factionalism and infighting and said his party is very strong and warned BJP not to meddle in the internal affairs of the JD(U). Nitish’s comments came in the wake of stepped up activities by the leaders of two factions in JD(U), one supporting Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and another loyal to his predecessor.
“The BJP is trying to create differences in our party but JD(U) is too strong to brave such conspiracies. BJP’s game plan is exposed by the daily basis statement of its Bihar leaders,” said Nitish and added that there were no talks in the party about the removal of Chief Minister Manjhi. Asked about the terse statement of one of the party’s spokesman Ajay Alok on Saturday asking three senior Ministers to resign from the party and join BJP, Nitish said, “The spokesmen should restrain and one should not have given such a statement.”
Alok is supposed to be close to Nitish and he had claimed that whatever he spoke was the official line of the party. “The matter should not be stretched too far,” said Nitish but also refused to take action against him. To a query if he would come back replacing Manjhi, Nitish shot back, “I quit the office and handed over responsibility to Manjhi. I am deeply involved in strengthening the party and the merger of six Janata Parivar parties.”
The former Chief Minister’s comments came after one of the senior Ministers Narendra Singh met him on Sunday and lodged his strong protest. He also wanted Alok sacked from the post. Singh also spoke to party president Sharad Yadav. Whatever Nitish said notwithstanding, the factionalism is at its peak in the JD(U). Continuing his tirade against Manjhi, party’s spokesman Neeraj Kumar said the Government was deviating from the path of ‘Sushasan’ (good governance) and said the CM was giving controversial statements almost every day.
“The statements like chopping the hands of doctors do not reflect good governance,” he said citing an old remark of the CM at a hospital where he had chided the doctors neglecting the poor patients. Alok on Monday said Agriculture Minister Singh has clarified his position but two other Ministers Nitish Mishra and Brishen Patel were still sitting silent and party would not hesitate in taking action against them.
BJP leader Sushil Kumar however, insisted that Nitish led group was trying to topple Manjhi and to reinstate Nitish as CM. He demanded that Assembly should be dissolved and fresh election be held in Bihar. A similar demand was raised by State lJP president Pashupati Kumar Paras. Modi claimed there was strong resentment in the JD(U) and its many legislators were in touch with him. Food and Consumer Protection Minister Shyam Rajak made counter attack and claimed that many senior BJP leaders were eager to work with Nitish and were desperate to join JD(U).