Grand alliance leaders fear more sting videos

Patna: Speculation about more sting videos exposing corruption by state ministers and JD(U) MLAs has made the Mahagathbandhan jittery as it may impact results in Round IV and V of the assembly polls in Bihar. The last two rounds of polling will take place for 112 seats on November 1 and 5.
Sources aware of sting operations done by a private agency, which is gradually releasing the videos exposing corrupt leaders in the ruling alliance, said more videos would be released on the social media over the next few days.
“We have information that the agency involved in sting operation has the recordings of at least two more ministers in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet and three sitting MLAs of the Mahagathbandhan,” said a source, adding both ministers are very close to Nitish.
Till now, three sting videos have been released on social media, showing excise minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha, JD(U)’s candidate from Kurtha in Arwal district Satyadeo Kushwaha and RJD candidates Mundrika Singh Yadav (Jehanabad) and Subedar Das (Makhdumpur) accepting bribes. Kushwaha was forced to resign from the ministry and was also replaced as the JD(U) candidate from Pipra assembly seat in East Champaran district. Police have even lodged FIRs against Awadhesh, Mundrika and Subedar after preliminary investigations.
A senior JD(U) leader said though everyone, including Nitish, is putting up a brave face in public, they are worried as sting videos send a very wrong impression to the voters. “To prevent a major setback, we even forced the minister to resign. However, as there is information about more such videos in the pipeline, we have also decided to toe the line of RJD and will take action once police investigation is complete,” said the JD(U) leader. The RJD is yet to take any action against the party candidates seen taking money in sting videos.
JD(U)’s chief spokesman Sanjay Singh said the party is waiting for investigations to get over. “We know some people are intentionally releasing the videos to harm our prospects in the assembly election,” said Singh, adding the party would definitely not tolerate corruption but only after it is proved beyond doubt. “We are not ready to play into the hands of people who are behind the expose,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arwal district election office has initiated inquiry against Satyadeo in the expose. An FIR would be lodged after the receipt of report from the Kurtha assembly segment’s returning officer.