However, Mr. Modi added that “the court verdict, in fact, suits Nitish as a weaker Lalu will be easier to handle.”
17-year alliance
Mr. Nitish Kumar was, earlier, in alliance with the BJP for 17 years and was a part of the NDA government for eight years till he parted ways with that party in 2013.
State BJP president Nitya Nand Rai asked Mr. Nitish Kumar whether he would come out of the alliance with Mr. Lalu, “otherwise people will believe Mr. Kumar patronises leaders involved in corruption and scams.”
‘Blot on Bihar’
Welcoming the Supreme Court ruling, another BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav charged that it was Mr. Lalu Prasad who had brought a blot on Bihar with the fodder scam cases. “ Jo Jaisa karega, waisa bharega [what you will do, you will reap],” he quipped.
But, the ruling alliance parties Janata Dal (United) and the Congress were wary in their reactions.
“It’s a court ruling and we should all respect it… the BJP always looks for an opportunity to make a dent in the ruling grand alliance in Bihar but it will not succeed,” said leaders of both parties.
Putting on a brave face, RJD leader Bhola Yadav told journalists that the “ruling of the Supreme Court will have no impact on Lalu. It will also have absolutely no impact on the ruling grand alliance.”
Senior socialist leader and former MP Shivanand Tiwari said, “those who have been looking for a crack in the grand alliance are just daydreaming.”
