Mumbai: Amid a political crisis in Bihar, the BJP today launched a broadside against JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, describing him as a "champion in horse trading" and "power hungry" as the saffron party kept its cards close to the chest on supporting Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi during next week's trust vote.
"Nitish Kumar is a champion in horse trading. He first tried to break up Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party through horse trading and then tried the same trick with RJD and BJP as well. These turncoats (defectors) were then made Ministers in his Government," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here.
He maintained that Kumar resigned as Chief Minister, in the wake of JD(U)'s defeat in the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar in May last, only to fulfil his Prime Ministerial ambitions.
"He (Kumar) is a man who is hungry for power now. He has no principles or ideologies. He became Chief Minister with BJP's support. After he became the CM, his political ambitions started vaulting. He thought of himself as a PM material. So he changed strategies and started attacking the BJP and Narendra Modi," Hussain said.
Asked if his party will back Manjhi during the trust vote on February 20, Hussain appeared unwilling to reveal BJP's strategy. The former Union Minister said BJP has several options before it and a final decision will be taken on the floor of the House.
"BJP will decide about it (supporting Manjhi) on the floor of the House. We have many options before us but we have not decided anything as yet. Nitish Kumar is only fooling the people. He does not have the support of 130 MLAs," he said.
Hussain said Kumar expected his handpicked successor to remain his "stooge", but decided to force him out of the post on realising Manjhi will not bow down to his diktat.
"Nitish made a Mahadalit the Chief Minister as he wanted someone to be his stooge. (Congress President) Sonia Gandhi had done the same thing with (former PM) Manmohan Singh. Though Manmohanji obediently did what Soniaji said, Nitish's plan backfired. His attitude shows he is a scared man who does not even trust his own MLAs," Hussain said.
