Protest by RJD workers turns violent in Chhapra, DM and SP attacked

A group of workers, allegedly of the Lalu Prasad Yad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), today attacked the District Magistrate of Chhapra Harihar Prasad. The attack came when a group of RJD workers blocked several roads here in protest against Nitish Kumar’s decision to walk out of the Grand Alliance and join ranks with the BJP to remain in power.

When Prasad learnt that RJD workers had blocked vehicular movement in the city, he personally decided to talk to RJD workers in order to bring the situation under control. However, angry protestors attacked him and thrashed him using lathis.

The RJD supporters also pelted stones at Superintendent of Police when he reached the spot to take stock of the situation.

The relegation of the RJD to the opposition following Nitish Kumar’s resignation on Wednesday and his eventual entry into the NDA riled Lalu’s supporters. RJD workers had earlier in the day blocked Mahatma Gandhi Setu, connecting north Bihar with Patna.

Lalu Yadav, who was in Ranchi to attend a court hearing in a case related to the fodder scam against him, termed Nitish an opportunist and a traitor. He further said the party was considering moving the Supreme Court against the Governor’s decision to invite Nitish to form government with the BJP’s support despite the RJD being the single largest party with 81 seats in the 243-seat Assembly.

Earlier this morning, Nitish took oath as Bihar Chief Minister at the head of a JD(U)-BJP government, within hours of dumping the Grand Alliance. This is Nitish's second innings in the last two years. He snapped ties late on Wednesday with Grand Alliance partners RJD and Congress over corruption charges against Lalu's son and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

The Raj Bhavan here echoed with chants of 'Nitish Kumar Zindabad' as Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi administered the oath to Nitish.

BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. The BJP offered support to Nitish Kumar after he resigned as Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Nitish Kumar had in 2013 ended his party's association with the BJP after the party projected Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election.

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