The acrimony of the aborted Karnataka trust vote spread to Bihar on Sunday, with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav taking on Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi for his tweet criticising the choice of H.D. Kumaraswamy, leader of the Janata Dal(S), for Chief Minister despite his party having just 38 seats.
Mr. Yadav replied that the BJP had just 53 seats in Bihar and was a clear number three but was still in power. He said Mr. Modi had not contested an election in 13 years and yet was Deputy Chief Minister.
“In the 222-seat Karnataka Assembly, is it respect for democracy that a party with 78 MLAs offers support, without it being asked for, to make the leader of a party with 38 MLAs Chief Minister and is adamant that the largest party with 104 MLAs should not come to power?” Mr. Modi tweeted.
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“Look who’s preaching? This is a rumour, sir! You are still number 3. Just 53 out of 243. You are Deputy Chief Minister because of Conscience Man. You have not contested an election in 13 years and are in politics and government through the backdoor,” Mr. Yadav replied.
He also hit out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his silence on the turn of events in Karnataka.