Manjhi proved unfit for CM's post: Tariq Anwar

PATNA: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) general secretary and Lok Sabha member from Katihar seat, Tariq Anwar on Saturday lauded all the MLAs who remained with Nitish Kumar in the tug-of-war with Jitan Ram Manjhi, in spite of openly being offered ministerial berths and even large amount of cash.
Tariq, who extended his stay here to participate in Nitish's swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Sunday, lashed out at BJP and said, "After Delhi, it is time to stop BJP in Bihar, for which all secular parties have to come together.Whatever Bihar has witnessed in the past few days was BJP's conspiracy. They tried to create confusion in JD (U) but a majority of its legislators did not fall in its (BJP) trap."
He praised Nitish for good governance and said, "The JD (U) won in 2005 and 2010 assembly elections because of Nitish and his dedication to Bihar. His resignation was a mistake. Though he made a Mahadalit the CM, a chief minister also needs to have ability to run the state. Right now, Bihar needs a mature CM like Nitish Kumar."
The NCP leader also criticized Jitan Ram Manjhi, saying the latter lacked commitment. "I remember one of the Manjhi's speeches in which he said he would never seek the support of BJP. But, he ran to BJP for help without any qualms. He lacked the dignity which a CM should have, and was taking ad hoc decisions without thinking of problems during their implementation. Also, law and order was out of control and Bihar was not developing under Manjhi. Removing Manjhi was not Nitish's decision, rather he was forced by his party members and other people to do so as the former did not prove fit for the CM's chair," said Anwar.
Tariq also condemned Manjhi's allegation of threat to his life and his supporters. This was just an excuse to escape humiliation on the floor of the legislature because he knew he had no majority support, he added.