Lalu, his family have looted Bihar: BJP backs Nitish

New Delhi/Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 29 (ANI): Backing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who said he would not support one who indulges in corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday stated that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family have looted the people of Bihar.

"Secularism is not to hide your corruption and wrongdoings. We will not support the one who will accumulate income through wrong means," Nitish had said.

BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey said Lalu's kin amassed huge amount of wealth and when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided them, they claimed to be innocent. Choubey further questioned, how could a simple man become owner of thousands of crores of rupees.

"In democracy, political parties are there to serve people. But in the name of serving people, they (Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Lalu) have looted people.How could a simple man become owner of thousands of crores of rupees. Lalu and his family have looted Bihar," Choubey told ANI.

Meanwhile, reacting on former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav's statement of Nitish-BJP insulting the mandate of people, BJP leader S. Prakash said the former is only playing a victim card.

"He (Tejashwi) should look back at Lalu Prasad's regime. How he had overrode many democratic reforms, not only in Bihar but also in the Central Government. In 1996, they had no majority but formed the government under the name of United Front," Prakash told ANI.

Yesterday, Nitish Kumar won the floor test with 131 votes in favour against 108.

The Chief Minister faced vote of confidence in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, to prove his majority to form the state government.

Nitish led JD (U)-NDA government had a support of 132 MLAs.

According to the communique issued from the Raj Bhawan, Nitish had claimed the support of 131 members, including the BJP, two independents and legislators of BJP allies Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)-Secular and Rashtriya Lok Samata party (RLSP).

On Thursday, Nitish and BJP leader Sushil Modi were sworn-in as Bihar Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively, and former has been asked to prove his majority on the floor by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

Nitish, on July 26 resigned as Bihar Chief Minister citing political differences with former ally, Lalu Prasad Yadav led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), over corruption charges against the RJD supremo's son Tejashwi Yadav.

He, however, on Thursday, took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the sixth time, marking a historic transition of the state from a Grand Alliance government to an NDA regime. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI