Modi govt encouraging horse-trading of MLAs in Bihar: Nitish

New Delhi, Feb 11: JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who will present over 130 MLAs before the President this evening to show that he enjoys majority support in the Bihar Assembly, accused the Modi government of encouraging "horse-trading" of MLAs in the state and alleged collusion by the Governor.

The former Bihar Chief Minister, who has been elected the JD(U) Legislature Party Leader in place of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, said it was obvious that a majority of MLAs supported him and alleged that the delay by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi in taking a decision was to hamper the formation of a new government.

Kumar arrived here from Patna yesterday evening, along with the MLAs supporting him, in two commercial flights.

He is scheduled to meet President Pranab Mukherjee at 7 P.M., accompanied with party president Sharad Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"The way a decision is being delayed is a clear indication that purchasing of MLAs is being done at the behest of the Centre. Intention is clear and this is to not allow formation of the majority government. We will tell the President that this will only encourage horse-trading," he told reporters. Kumar said his party and allies will impress upon the President on the need to take a quick action in the matter.

Delaying the matter is only adding to the uncertainty and vitiating the political atmosphere in Bihar, he said. Kumar had staked claim before Tripathi on February 9 to form a government even though incumbent Manjhi, who has been sacked from the party, insisted that he too enjoyed support of a majority of MLAs. Whatever is happening in the state is against democratic and constitutional norms, he said.

PTI