Maharashtra script replayed: Tejashwi

Patna: The opposition parties reacted sharply on Monday after CM Nitish Kumar resigned from the membership of the legislative council. Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said the development indicates that the saffron party has followed the same path it adopted in Maharashtra and has deceived both Nitish and the people of Bihar.

Speaking to the reporters, Tejashwi said his party had predicted from the beginning that Nitish would not continue as CM. “They repackaged the Maharashtra-like situation and removed Nitish ji,” said Tejashwi, adding that BJP leaders had deceived Nitish as well as the people of Bihar.

He further said it had become clear when Nitish left the INDIA bloc just ahead of the Lok Sabha election that he would not be allowed to continue in Bihar.

When asked whether Nitish’s son Nishant was capable of leading Bihar, Tejashwi avoided a direct reply and instead said that any youth was welcome in politics.

RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said the development marked the end of Nitish’s political career. “This is the shocking end of the political career of Nitish who has got caught in the BJP web. He was the CM by circumstances, for whom political ideologies meant nothing,” said Shakti, adding that the BJP played a big game and Nitish got trapped in the web they spread.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said Nitish was not physically and mentally fit, and that was why he was being removed. However, he criticised the leaders of the BJP as well as JD(U) for deceiving the people of Bihar. “Who has betrayed the people of Bihar? Nitish Kumar, his party and BJP leaders who knew that Nitish Kumar is not keeping well, yet they lured saying he will provide one crore job. Now he himself has lost his job. Who will give jobs in Bihar,” said Kishor.

Congress state chief spokesperson Rajesh Rathorre said although Nitish had stepped down from the membership of the Vidhan Parishad, people remained uncertain about whether he would resign from the CM’s post as well. “He was bound to resign today, otherwise constitutional action would have been taken against him. But common people, as well as BJP people, are confused whether he will resign from CM post or not. He has kept people confused throughout and doing the same even in the end, or else why is he taking time to leave the CM's chair,” said Rathorre.