Patna, Aug 16 (UNI) Within hours of cabinet expansion of the newly formed Grand Alliance government, Rajya Sabha member of BJP Sushil Kumar Modi alleged that several leaders having criminal antecedents found berth in the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Modi told media persons here that a large number of leaders with criminal antecedents getting cabinet berths had given enough signals of returning harrowing days in Bihar.
Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav preferred to ensure criminals becoming ministers from the RJD quota in the Grand Alliance government, he added.
" Criminal cases relating to violation of Arms Act, sexual assault and attempt to murder are pending against ministers from RJD quota", BJP leader pointed out. The newly formed cabinet also failed to give representation to all sections of society, he stated.
" About 33 per cent cabinet berths were allotted to Muslims and Yadavs while no leader from extremely backward community got opportunity to become minister", Modi said, adding that Renu Devi, MLA from the extremely backward community was made Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar in NDA government but no leader from extremely backward was made Deputy Chief in the Grand Alliance government. No minister from Kanu, Teli, Kalwar, Kayastha and Kanyakubj Brahman was made minister in the new government, he added.
BJP leader said that as per the precedent, the Finance department should have been given to RJD. He in his sarcastic tone thanked RJD president Lalu Prasad for making his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, a minister in the new cabinet who would keep entertaining the people.
As it is, Chief Minister Nitish had walked away from NDA to join hands with RJD to form the Grand Alliance government after alleging that BJP was trying to create split in his party JD(U).
UNI KKS ARN