Nitish-BJP insulted Bihar's mandate meant for grand alliance: Tejashwi Yadav

Patna (Bihar) [India] July 28 (ANI): Former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Friday said that the mandate which was handed over by the people of Bihar in 2015 elections was for the grand alliance, adding that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had insulted that mandate. "It is a murder of democracy. People of Bihar had given mandate in 2015 not for the BJP but for the grand alliance. He (Nitish) along with the saffron party has insulted the mandate," Tejashwi told the media here. He further assured that public will teach them a lesson. "We asked several questions in assembly today, but BJP and Nitish Kumar had no answers to them. When they couldn't answer my questions in assembly, then how will they answer to the people?" he questioned. Tejashwi added the entire disturbing series of events had been planned in advance by the saffron party. "Nitish ji is sitting in the lap of BJP and RSS which has disappointed the people of Bihar. The public feels betrayal. If he had to ultimately go to the BJP then did he change four parties in four years," he asserted. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar has won the floor test with 131 votes in favour against 108. The Chief Minister was faced vote of confidence in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, to prove his majority to form the state government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) had issued whip to their legislators to vote in favour of the trust vote. The RJD and the Congress had also issued a similar whip to their legislators. 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). Opposition RJD has 80 MLAs, the Congress 27 and the CPI-ML 3. Yesterday, 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)