BJP demands CBI probe into ‘bribegate’, says big fish escaped

PATNA: The exposé on two Grand Alliance (GA) leaders taking bribe has once again changed the narrative from development to caste to beef and now to bribe in the Bihar polls.

The BJP on Monday demanded a CBI probe into the videos that allegedly showed JD (U) leader Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha and Jehanabad’s RJD candidate Mudrika Singh Yadav taking bribes. The Election Commission sought a report from the administrative heads of East Champaran and Jehanabad districts.

“Though the EC is looking into the matter, the CBI should also take up the investigation,” senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said. Union minister Giriraj Singh lashed out at the Nitish Kumar government, saying “small fish have been caught but the big fish managed to escape”. Additional chief electoral officer R Lakshmanan said, “We have sought a report from the district magistrates and action will be taken accordingly.”

Kushwaha had on Sunday night resigned from the Nitish Kumar cabinet after a video allegedly showing him taking money from a businessman went viral. The JD (U) had nominated Kushwaha from Pipra constituency in East Champaran. “We asked him to resign immediately and the CM has forwarded his resignation to the governor,” said JD (U) state president Bas hist ha Na ray an Singh. “The CM will announce the name of a new candidate by Tuesday,” he said. Singh said the JD (U) showed high morality by asking the minister to resign but the BJP, whose CM is embroiled in the Vyapam scam, did not resign. Yadav, meanwhile, alleged the sting operation was“fake and baseless”.