Nitish Kumar slams BJP for seeking NCP's help in Maharashtra to form government

Senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday slamed BJP for questioning his party alliance with RJD whose "jungle raj" he had fought earlier and questioned the saffron party's ethics in winning confidence vote in Maharashtra with the help of NCP.

"Narendra Modi during campaign in Maharashtra for Assembly poll used to describe NCP as 'Brashtacharwadi Congress Party' in place of 'Rashtriyawadi Congress Party'...(Then) with whose support it won trust vote in Maharashtra yesterday?" Kumar wondered at his first meeting of fortnight long "Samparak yatra" here.

"BJP leaders who criticises me for joining hands with Lalu Prasad owe an explanation for saving the government in Maharashtra with the help of NCP," he said seeking to turn the table on his old companion.

Countering BJP allegation of ushering the state into "jungle raj" by entering into alliance with RJD, Kumar said "I never used the word 'jungle raj' but instead used to talk about 'Atank raj' and established rule of law after NDA ministry came in power in Bihar in 2005." Kumar, who is former Chief Minister of Bihar and who would be the face of JD(U) in the coming Assembly poll alleged that BJP was a party of "power hungry people" and could do anything to achieve this objective.

"Kaun hai Kursi Chipku (who is attached to the chair)?" he asked BJP referring to NCP support to it. The senior JD(U) leader justified alliance with RJD and Congress to defeat BJP which believed in "dividing" the country on communal lines.