Growing BJP interest in Bihar has turned state CM its worst critic

Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is a changed man .An engineering graduate who lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months ago, for note-ban and his action against Benami properties ,has become his worst critic and of his party-- Bharatiya Janata Party.

He sounds equally bitter against chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath who is his nominee. The reason may be the growing interest of the party in the neighbouring state where he is playing a second fiddle, his coalition partner, Rashtriya Janata Party headed by Lalu Prasad Yadav ruling the roost.

After visit of some top party leaders, popular Hindu face and chief minister of the most populous state has himself visited Bihar. He seems to be taking all this as an attempt to strengthen the party and weaken his hold on the state. There are reports that Adityanath has plans to strengthen the Hindu Yuva Vahini founded by him in Bihar, too.

The present Vahini leaders in the northern part of the state and areas close to Uttar Pradesh have been already informed about the plans. Nitish has found all this hard to digest.

Deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya has infuriated him further by asking to go for a snap poll and test his popularity in the state . Unable to stomach, he has hit back asking him to resign and face simultaneous polls in Uttar Pradesh.

He did not like the Yogi's visit to the state a wee bit is also clear from his statement that Yogi is coming to Darbhanga ( in Bihar) empty handed on Thursday while a day earlier " I have visited the place a day earlier and launched several new projects".

Nitish has dared both the Prime Minister and UP chief minister to introduce prohibition and 50 per cent reservation for women in civic bodies in BJP-ruled states as has been done in Bihar.

Though his total prohibition policy has come in for flaks by many as it has encouraged illicit trade and led to killing of a number of habitual drinkers, he considers it as one of the best things he has done for the state.

Another change noticed is his recent statements in praise of Lalu his one-time enemy. May be it is because of this change that he has been keeping quiet on allegations of Benami properties held by Lalu's family members which have been valued at Rs 1000 crores.