Another dissident voice emerged on Monday against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from within the NDA with JD(U) leader and former union minister Mohammad Taslimuddin questioning development in the state.
“Nitish Kumar has only created facade of development and there is not much to show on the ground,” Mr. Taslimuddin told reporters.
Refusing to recognise Kumar as ‘vikas purush’, a title given to him by his party workers, Taslimuddin said “He is no vikas purush, but only an engineer. He is fooling the people through his tall claims.”
Questioning Mr. Kumar’s secular image, he said “There is no difference between Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar. Muslims are wary of him because of his ties with BJP.”
Mr. Taslimuddin, four times Lok Sabha member from Kisanganj but lost the last general elections to Congress nominee Mohammad Asrarul Haque, alleged that the Nitish government was neglecting development of the Seemanchal region comprising Purnea, Araria and Kisanganj districts.
“I had left Lalu Prasad’s party for the same reason and will not accept it under the present government of Nitish Kumar,” he said.
Asked if he was planning to return to the RJD, he said “I will take a decision at an appropriate time. I may also contest next Lok Sabha poll as an independent from Araria.”
Attacking the BJP, he said “Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has been approving the bad decisions of Nitish Kumar.”
He also alleged that the bureaucracy was dominating under the Nitish regime.
Mr. Taslimuddin is the third leader to revolt against Nitish Kumar. Earlier, BJP MP from Purnea Uday Singh and JD(U) MLA Chhedi Paswan spoke against the state government.