Between perfomance and politics, turmoil surfaces within NDA in Bihar

Over the last few weeks, leaders of NDA constituents including JDU and BJP have tweeted contrary statements against each other.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar along with legislators arrives at Bihar Assembly, during the first day of Budget Session, in Patna. (File Photo | PTI)
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar along with legislators arrives at Bihar Assembly, during the first day of Budget Session, in Patna. (File Photo | PTI)

PATNA: The Hindustani Awami Morch (HAM), one of the constituents of Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, on Wednesday demanded the formation of ‘Coordination Committee’ within the NDA.

This was a telling sign that all is not well with the ruling alliance.

This comes few days after State BJP chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal expressed his displeasure on the functioning of district administration in preventing crimes against Dalit by a particular section of people in the state.

With this mind, the HAM stirred up politics within the NDA in Bihar with the demand for Coordination Committee.

"We've demand to form coordination committee to sort out any kind of grievances within the NDA internally instead of going in public through media or other channels of communication," Danish Rizwan-spokesperson of HAM said, adding that those who are trying to create confusion will be exposed.

He said that whosoever from NDA making statements are giving a chance to the opposition for slamming the state government.

Over the last few weeks, leaders of NDA constituents including JDU and BJP have tweeted contrary statements against each other.

Earlier, Upendra Kushwaha had also tweeted in sarcastic tone on Jaiswal and asking PM Modi to follow what Nitish Kumar had done by granting reservation to girls in medical and engineering college admission.

When another BJP leader Janak Ram also raised a voice against crimes perpetuated by some people of a particular community, the HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi had indirectly attacked on him tweeting that no one should attempt to disturb the cordial social bonding of Dalit and the minority people.

"The Dalit-Muslims of the state are united. Those who are feeling pain in their stomach due to Dalit-Muslim unity, are raising their fingers on the Bihar government. In Bihar, the law is doing its job," Manjhi said.

The BJP leaders had alleged that atrocities on Dalits by Muslims in Purnia, Champaran, Gopalganj and Jamui were on the rise. The BJP minister in the government, Janak Ram, had said that the conversion of Mahadalits is being done in Gopalganj and Jamui.

Sources from the NDA said that differences within the NDA particularly between BJP and the JDU are cropping up over many issues.

The differences have widened further after the release of report of NITI Aayog in which Bihar has been ranked at worst in performance. The BJP leaders, trying to console Nitish Kumar, are saying that developments have taken place under his leadership but JDU is attributing the worst state performance to lack of special status to Bihar on the part of the union government.

BJP leader and national general secretary of OBC wing Dr Nikhil Anand on being asked about the HAM demand said that the NDA is working on common agenda of crime and corruption free sustainable development of the state.

"Nitish Kumar is excellently leading the state and coordinating well with all the alliance partners. There is no significance on the statement of any individual," he added.

But sources from NDA noted that the HAM had created division in the UPA also on the issue of formation of Coordination committee.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav taking advantages of growing ruckus within the NDA termed the Nitish Kumar led government as a fungus imposed by the Election commission on Bihar in November.

Reacting against Tejashwi statement, Dr Anand said, "If Tejashwi Yadav is saying Nitish Kumar government is a fungus, what is Tejashwi himself? He is a Chinese virus!" he said.

Related Stories

No stories found.

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com