BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav interacts with reporters outside the Assembly after being appointed the Leader of Opposition on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, June 19: The first day first show of Nand Kishore Yadav was sort of a warning to Nitish Kumar for the road ahead.

The earlier road construction minister, Yadav — elected leader of opposition replacing Abdul Bari Siddiqui of the RJD today — took constant potshots at the chief minister during his hour-long speech in the Assembly.

“The Nitish Kumar I knew was a person with thought and vision; someone who chose words carefully before saying anything. But I am sorry to say that your decision to break the alliance has forced me to change my perception about you. Now you have understood ‘jugad’ technology very well,” said Yadav, hinting at the successful numbers game Nitish would play in the afternoon. Known as an anti-Congress leader throughout his career, Nitish sailed through the trust vote with “jugad” (indigenous) technology by engaging the four national party members to support is government, he said.

Development of roads since 2005 has been a feather in the Nitish’s crown but Yadav, being the minister in charge of the department, said: “You must not dare to take all credit for the state’s development. The people gave the mandate to the BJP also.” The BJP MLA from Patna Sahib also took an interest in the Ganga Driveway project.

With Wednesday’s speech, that reminded one of the likes of Karpoori Thakur, Jagannath Mishra and others, Yadav was easily one of the best orators in the House. Even a JD(U) MLA from Nitish’s home district, Nalanda, said: “It was a wonderful speech. I never new that Nand Kishoreji was such a good orator.”

Another MLA from Rohtas district was also heard praising the new Leader of Opposition: “No doubt the speech was excellent and it has torn our boss (Nitish) apart. He had no choice but to listen to him. There was a kind of solid confidence in his speech.”

During the entire speech from 11.15am to 12.15pm, a few ministers, including Narendra Singh and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, tried to interrupt but Yadav did not gave them a chance..

Not only MLAs even a JD(U) MP, who had come to see the special session, did not hesitate to praise Yadav.