It is opportunism, treachery with people's mandate: Cong

The Congress on Thursday described Nitish Kumar's joining hands with BJP to remain in power as "rank opportunism and treachery with people's mandate" and said it was "a black day" for Indian democracy.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Kumar had pledged never to join hands with the BJP and alleged that his mask of "big talks and self professed honesty" stands exposed, with his sole principle being "power at any cost, power at all costs".

Recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had questioned Kumar's "political DNA" ahead of 2015 elections, he said, "It has been proved today that the political DNA of BJP and JD(U) is identical - opportunism, treachery, hunger for power and disregard of people's mandate".

"In Bihar, every political and democratic principle was murdered in broad daylight and a government of BJP-JD(U) has been formed on Thursday, which is neither people's mandate nor does it have the authority to rule. This is a black day indeed for Indian democracy," the Congress leader said.

Surjewala said it is an affront to the people's mandate and a "double whammy" for democracy that within 20 months, the politics of opportunism was repeated "when a party rejected by the people and a leader hungry for power at any cost formed a government overnight". He said in November 2015, the people of Bihar rejected the leadership of Narendra Modi and the policies of BJP and the mandate of people was in favour of the policies, principles and leadership of ' Mahagathbandhan'.