Bihar BJP Vice-President Visheswar Ojha shot dead

The Grand Secular Alliance government is likely to face some fresh attacks from the Opposition BJP after two of their senior district-level leaders were killed on Friday.

Visheswar Ojha, a vice-president of the party, was killed in Bhojpur district while returning from a marriage ceremony. Ojha had contested elections last year and was also facing several cases. Earlier on Friday, another BJP leader, Kedarnath Singh, was shot dead in Chapra.

The BJP, threatening to launch a massive campaign against the state government, reiterated that “the incident shows that jungle raj has returned in Bihar and the chief minister is watching everything as a mute spectator”.

Mounting an attack on chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Yadav and holding them responsible for the lawlessness in Bihar, former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said: “Their meetings on law and order issue are nothing but an eyewash. There is actually no effort to curb lawlessness.”

The BJP, along with other NDA leaders, including Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha, are likely to take out protest marches against the state government. Sources said that the state police has launched a massive manhunt in Bhojpur district. According to the BJP, “Two party leaders were killed within a span of 24 hours. This government has lost credibility to remain in power.”

Earlier, LJP MP Chirag Paswan had demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in Bihar.

A series of killings and rising incidents of extortion threats have spurred into action leaders of the NDA against the state government led by Mr Kumar.

Earlier this week, the LJP chief had said: “This phase is reminding people of the era of the ’90s when the RJD was in power and Lalu Yadav was the chief minister. Nitish used to roar like a lion when he was with the NDA, now he has lost his voice.”