Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said he had decided against JD(U) joining the government at the Centre, after the BJP's refusal to his demand for four ministerial berths in 2019. He also asserted that the induction of his former close aide RCP Singh last year did not have his consent.
"I had said in 2019 that we should get at least four berths. We had 16 MPs, they had just one more from Bihar. Agreeing to anything less than that would have sent a bad message in Bihar from where they had inducted five people. They refused so we did not join, Kumar said.
Asked about BJP leaders' contention that his consent was sought before the induction of Singh, the CM said "it is untrue. He (RCP) was the national president and I did not approve of the development. A reason why I made him step down from the top party post six months later, Kumar told reporters.
Earliwer, Nitish defended his new government's decision to provide Z-plus' security cover to his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, rubbishing criticism of the move by the BJP.
Nitish also said his government will try to fulfil the promise of 10-lakh jobs that Yadav had made ahead of the last assembly elections.
"He is the deputy CM with obvious security needs. Why should he not get the cover? They (the BJP) speak nonsense," said Nitish when his attention was drawn by reporters to criticism from leaders of the saffron party.
Reacting to the decision to provide Z-plus security cover for Yadav, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Modi had tweeted, I was never given a bulletproof car, not Z-plus security either. With minimum security, I served the public for a long time from the government residence at Polo Road.
"Why do they need so much security? People are now scared that they have come to power," he added.
"The 'Z-plus' security comprises a pilot, an escort, a close protection team, house guard, spotters, search and frisking staff, among others in the form of several plain-clothes security personnel and armed commandos," a senior police official said.
Yadav has also been provided with a bulletproof car.
Asked about the electoral promise of 10 lakh jobs that Yadav, then in the opposition, had made during the 2020 assembly polls, and which the young RJD leader asserted, has got the nod from the chief minister, Kumar said, "We will definitely try to fulfil that promise to the best of our ability."
The JD(U) leader was also asked whether he feared non-cooperation from the Centre, in terms of financial assistance, following his exit from the NDA.
There are norms with regard to sharing of revenue between the Centre and the state. If these norms are betrayed, those doing so will stand exposed and suffer consequences, said the 71-year-old Kumar, who is the longest-serving CM of the state.
To a pointed query whether the cabinet expansion is scheduled to take place on August 16, Kumar said with a mischievous smile what if it happens earlier than that?
He, however, added, "We had wanted to complete the induction of ministers as early as possible. But, it seems we will have to wait till the 15th (of August) is over."