JD(U)-BJP alliance: RJD supporters hold protests, block roads across Bihar; Saran DM, SP attacked

Backed by the BJP, Nitish Kumar on Thursday returned as the Bihar CM for the sixth time barely a day after his dramatic resignation.

Patna: RJD supporters on Thursday took out protests and resorted to violence across Bihar after Nitish Kumar broke away from the Grand Alliance and joined hands with the BJP to form the government.

The supporters of Lalu Prasad Yadav also attacked Saran District Magistrate Harihar Prasad and Superintendent of Police Anusuya Ransingh Sahu.

The protestors attacked the DM and the SP when they came to clear the Jay Prakash Narayan over-bridge in the district.

They had burnt tyres which had resulted in a major traffic jam at around 10 am. It got cleared around 2 pm. 

Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajit Kumar Rai confirmed incident and said an FIR had been registered in this connection, as per PTI.

The police chased away the protestors and restored traffic on the over-bridge, which connects Sonepur with Patna district, sub-divisional officer Sudhir Kumar said.

On the other hand,  the DM was quoted as saying by The Times of India, "Three constables received injuries during the stone pelting when we had reached the spot to pacify the supporters to clear the blockade..."

Reports of road blockade and protest march by RJD supporters also poured in from Hajipur, Begusarai and Patna among others during the day.

In Lalu's native village Phulwaria in Gopalganj district also violence is said to have occurred. RJD supporters at Phulwaria reportedly brought down all banners of Nitish displaying several developmental projects and torched them.

As per media reports, the violence, which had started at 10 am, continued for almost two hours.

Protest also took place at Mania Chowk in the district. 

The RJD supporters are reported to have blocked the Gandhi Setu for several hours near pillar number-1 under Ganga Bridge police station in Vaishali district.

Moreover, an overbridge in town area in Samastipur was blocked for several hours by RJD supporters.

TOI quoted Samastipur SP Naval Kishore Singh as saying that the district police was on alert given the changing political situation.

In Patna too, RJD workers staged demonstration against Nitish and burnt his effigy.

At the same time, they took out a protest march from RJD headquarters at Birchand Patel Path to Income Tax roundabout.

Nitish Kumar returns as Bihar CM for sixth time: 

Meanwhile, backed by the BJP, Nitish today returned as the Bihar CM for the sixth time barely a day after his dramatic resignation that dented Opposition's unity which could have a bearing on the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Kumar, 66, will seek a trust vote during a one-day special session of the Bihar Assembly convened at 11 am tomorrow after the Governor yesterday asked him to prove his majority on the floor of the House on July 28.

A little more than 12 hours after Kumar resigned to break ranks with his allies - Lalu Yadav's RJD party and the Congress - he was back in office after being sworn in by Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Raj Bhawan.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi was also sworn in, and would be the Deputy CM.

"Whatever decision we have taken will be in the interest of Bihar and of its people. It will ensure development and justice," Kumar told reporters after the swearing-in.

"This is a collective decision. I ensure that our commitment is towards the people of Bihar," he said.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda and BJP leader Anil Jain were present at the brief ceremony.

Immediately after the swearing in, the JD(U) announced that it will support the BJP-led NDA government in both the Houses of Parliament.

The swearing in capped breathtaking political developments in the state with Kumar quitting his post last night following a fall out with the RJD over corruption charges against Lalu Prasad and his family members.

Chief among them is Prasad's son, Tejashwi Yadav, who was the deputy CM in the outgoing government.

Yadav had refused to step down after the CBI filed corruption charges against him and had also ignored Kumar's advice to explain his conduct.

Kumar cited this as the reason to resign and ally with the BJP to become the chief minister for the sixth time. 

The NDA alliance had submitted a list of 132 MLAs yesterday to the governor. These include 71 of JD(U), BJP 53, RLSP two, LJP two, HAM one and three independents.

In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the RJD has 80 MLAs, the Congress 27 and the CPI-ML has three.

(With Agency inputs)