Nitish Kumar used and then threw away Jitan Ram Manjhi: BJP

Patna: The BJP on Saturday accused senior JD(U) leader and Chief Minister-designate Nitish Kumar of using former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and then throwing him away when his "self-respect" awakened.

It also urged Kumar to seek forgiveness from the people of Bihar for betraying their mandate and teaming-up with RJD chief Lalu Prasad in his lust for power, and asserted that it will prepare strongly for the forthcoming Assembly polls to defeat the alliance.

"The public in Bihar knows who stabbed a Mahadalit leader. Kumar first portrayed that he has sacrificed his post and thought Manjhi will be a puppet chief minister. But when Manjhi's self-respect awakened, he was thrown away like a fly is removed from the milk," said BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.

Talking at the state BJP headquarters here, he said the entire country saw what happened in Bihar. Kumar will have to answer if he had sacrificed his post, why was he so eager to become the chief minister again.

He also said that the BJP remained unaffected by the political upheaval in the state and added that "it would have stood besides Manjhi, had he taken the floor test in the Legislative Assembly".

Taking potshots at Kumar's apology to the public for relinquishing his post after JD (U)'s dismal performance in May 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP leader said it was not enough.