JD-U misusing office of assembly speaker, alleges BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday alleged that the Janata Dal-United is misusing the office of Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary, adding that the Sharad Yadav -led party wants to stay in power and also play the role of opposition.

"The JD-U is accusing the BJP of misusing the office of the governor. But the JD-U is misusing the office of the speaker. The speaker's post has its dignity. But the way the speaker is behaving in the assembly by addressing the Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav in a letter as BJP leader in the House. We oppose this, as when was it decided that Nand Kishore Yadav is not the Leader of Opposition," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He also questioned the role of the Speaker for giving the JD-U the right to power as well as opposition.

"Does the Speaker has the right to give one party the power as well as opposition? The BJP is opposing this," he said.

The BJP leader also criticized the JD (U) for parading and proving its majority in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

"First, it should be proved on the floor as to who has the majority. Is it Nitish Kumar or Manjhi ji? And this cannot be decided neither in the road nor in the lawns of the Rashtrapati Bhavan," Hussain said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the JD-U suspended seven MLAs owing allegiance to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, ahead of the February 20 trial of strength for him on the floor of the Bihar Assembly.

Meanwhile, the BJP has boycotted an all-party meeting accusing the Assembly Speaker of favouring Nitish Kumar.