Nitish Kumar reprimands JD(U) MLA Bima Bharti for threatening to quit

PATNA: A day after JD(U) MLA Bima Bharti "threatened" that she will resign as legislator if minister Leshi Singh is not sacked from the new state cabinet, chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday reprimanded her for raising questions over re-induction of Singh.
A visibility annoyed Nitish said though the party would first try to discuss the matter with Bharti, she is free to chart her own course if not convinced.
"It is not that she (Leshi) has been made minister for the first time. She has been minister since 2013. Besides, Bima had also been made minister twice - in 2014 and 2019. Everybody can't be made minister every time. Thus, there is no reason for making such statements. I was in fact surprised. This is completely wrong as we have given complete respect to them," Nitish said.
He added that Bima wanted to meet him. "I said she can come and meet me on Friday. But she said there is no need now," Nitish said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Bima, an MLA from Rupauli assembly segment, had alleged that Leshi is facing criminal charges and had been involved in anti-party activities as well. "Leshi is being made minister every time. What is the logic behind it? I would request the chief minister to remove her as minister, else I will resign as an MLA," she had said.
Incidentally, both Bima and Leshi got elected from adjoining assembly segments of Purnia district. Leshi's late husband and Bima's spouse are said to have been rivals with a reputation for use of muscle power.