Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi (Press Trust of India)
Expressing glee over 'infighting' in the state unit of BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said if rivals fight like this, the non-BJP parties would keep getting stronger, and would form the next government too.
"Though it is an internal matter of BJP, but it is a fact that if its leaders keep fighting like this we will keep getting stronger and will form the next government in the state too," Mr Manjhi said.
"What we see is that the rivals cannot work under a single leadership. At least we are not seeing anything like it right now. This is good for us. It will strengthen us," Mr Manjhi told reporters on the sidelines of a function organised by Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation (BPBC).
Mr Manjhi's comments came after senior BJP leaders like Shatrughan Sinha, CP Thakur, Ram Naresh Chaurasia, Chandra Mohan Rai and Ashwini Choubey voiced their opposition about former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi being prepped as the front-runner for the chief minister's post.
BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Samata Party's chief and minister Upendra Kushwaha has also voiced concern over Mr Modi, the leader of opposition in the legislative council, being projected as the CM candidate of NDA.
To questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday today, Mr Manjhi said he wishes a long life to the Prime Minister and hopes he will work in an "impartial" manner for the country.
Speaking about the multi-crore drug and medical equipment purchase scam that has rocked the state for the past two months, he said, "Our probe into the medicine scam is nearing completion. We will take action on the culprits very soon. We have not discussed CBI investigation into it as yet."
On the beating up of students of Bihar at Manipur National Institute of Technology (NIT), Mr Manjhi said the two senior officials sent by him have reached there.
"They will study the condition of our students there and the problems they face. If there is a need to bring the children back, then action will be taken accordingly. Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met the students on my intervention, and has provided security to them," he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Manjhi used the remote control to inaugurate 197 police buildings, including 47 newly constructed police stations across the state at a cost of Rs 171 crore. He also laid the foundation stone of 55 buildings, which will be made at a cost of Rs 37 crore.