Pro-Nitish MLAs 'receive' monetary offers

The legislators of Janata Dal (U), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, who have extended support to former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that they were being “offered money” to switch loyalty and support Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Majhi.

Over 100 pro-Nitish legislators , who had arrived from Patna to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday evening, have been housed at posh hotels and resorts in Greater Noida.

The MLAs said they expected the president to do “justice” and direct Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi not to “delay” formation of a new government led by Nitish Kumar.

“The governor is taking a long time in deciding the matter. A delay will encourage horse trading,” said a woman MLA from Sirsa Assembly constituency in Bihar. She alleged that the supporters of Majhi had approached her with offers of money and ministerial berth. “Though we are here (Noida) but our family members are still getting calls from Majhi supporters,” she said.

Another woman legislator also expressed similar sentiments and claimed that they were facing “coercion” from the rival camp. “Majhi supporters have told us that they will finish us politically in the next Assembly polls,” she claimed.

Others hoped that the president would act quickly to end the impasse.