Internal bickerings of JD(U) come to fore

Patna, Apr 18 (UNI) Internal bickerings in the JD(U) today came to fore when several senior beleagured party leaders criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his "failure" to fulfil the aspirations of the people and alleged that bureaucrats in the state were not under the control of government.

Senior JD(U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vashistha Narain Singh, principal general secretary of Bihar unit of the party Upendra Prasad Kushwaha, former party MP Arun Singh, former MP Anand Mohan, JD(U) MLA Chhedi Paswan, who was suspended by the party, and a host of other senior leaders attended the meeting, which voiced their dissatisfaction over the performance of the government.

Interestingly, former JD(U) president George Fernandes, having bitter political relation with Mr Kumar following his ouster from the prime post of the party, remained conspicuous by his absence.

Mr Fernandes despite giving his consent to attend the meeting failed to arrive at the venue and an announcement of his ill health was made at the eleventh hour.

Addressing the meeting, party MP Vashistha Narain Singh alleged that the Nitish Kumar government was misleading the people by making tall announcements, while the ground level realities continued to remain unchanged.

He dubbed the laying of foundation of welfare and development schemes by Mr Kumar in various districts of the state during the last few months as "gimmick" to befool the people as these had not helped usher in a new era of development and prosperity.

Mr Kumar had done nothing to ameliorate the lots of the oppressed and downtrodden section of the society although he had never failed in proclaiming himself as champion of their causes, he also alleged.

Mr Singh alleged that bureaucrats were not under control of the state government and they were not following even the directives of the Ministers.

Mr Kumar did not take notice of the complaint of the Ministers when they raised the issue before him, he lamented.

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