The MLAs who joined the saffron party include Gyanendra Singh Gyanu (Barh), Rajeshwar Raj (Karakat), Suresh Chanchal (Sakra) and Dinesh Kushwaha (Minapur), who is also a former state minister.
The BJP in Bihar on Wednesday received a shot in the arm, in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, as four rebel JD(U) MLAs, who along with other legislators had led the charge against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, joined the party along with their supporters. The MLAs who joined the saffron party include Gyanendra Singh Gyanu (Barh), Rajeshwar Raj (Karakat), Suresh Chanchal (Sakra) and Dinesh Kushwaha (Minapur), who is also a former state minister.
Welcoming them to the party fold in the presence of Union Minister of state for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy, state BJP president Mangal Pandey said, "The wheels of change will run faster in Bihar from today. Nitish Kumar has lost four wickets today, will get clean bold in the coming state polls."
Pandey said Kumar had tortured and victimised the MLAs who wanted to see Bihar progress so they are now joining the saffron party. He added that Kumar is lost in his ego and is indulging in politics of power instead of politics of development, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was doing.
Among the MLAs who joined BJP today, Gyanu had led around 20 JD(U) legislators in questioning the policies and leadership of Kumar last year. The rebels had forced a showdown by supporting two independent candidates instead of their party, during the Rajya Sabha polls held in June 2014.
Eight of them were later disqualified by Legislative Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary for 'anti-party activities', and JD(U) later expelled them from the party. They were later granted reprieve by the Supreme Court and Patna High Court.
Speaking on the occasion, Rudy said the MLAs who joined the party today have realised that Kumar is an egoistic, selfish and undemocratic person who thinks himself to be a repository of wisdom.
"We welcome Gyanu, Raj, Chanchal and Kushwaha to BJP. They have realised that Kumar cannot work for the welfare of Bihar or nation. He has violated the mandate of public against 'jungleraj' (rule of jungle) and shook hands with RJD chief Lalu Prasad in his greed for power," Rudy said.
The Union Minister said that the day Nitish Kumar accepted the leadership of Prasad, people realised that formation of NDA government in the state could not be stopped.
While expressing displeasure with Kumar's questioning of Modi over the special package to Bihar and his intention, Rudy said that the public will question him (Kumar) during the polls regarding what happened to his promises of development, and why he joined hands with Prasad.
"The special package announced by the PM is a fitting reply to Kumar and Prasad who make snide remarks on the PM, who is a large-hearted man. They have now nothing left with them so they are commenting on it," Rudy added.
Gyanu accused Kumar of betraying BJP and people of Bihar due to his "ego". He called him "politically most dishonest leader in the country" who even betrayed his mentor George Fernandes, as well as, friend and former Union Minister Digvijay Singh.
"Kumar always behaved like a dictator and ignored party workers. MLAs were relegated to the status of a peon. We resented all these and revolted. He tortured us, victimised us and used his influence to get us disqualified from Legislative Assembly," he added.
Gyanu said he and his associate MLAs will tour the state to campaign against Kumar and Prasad to ensure that they bite dust in the polls. Raj, Kushwaha and Chanchal also spoke on the occasion.
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