Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday added fuel to the flames of dissent flickering in chief minister Nitish Kumar's party by coming out in support of two JDU leaders who have spoken against the party line.

Lalu's support for JDU national general secretary Shyam Rajak and former Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary came two days after the duo accused the central government of trying to take away reservation from Dalits.

"The point raised by Shyam Rajak and Uday Narayan is absolutely correct," Lalu said before going to Ranchi to appear before CBI court in fodder scam. "The central government is trying its level best to take away reservation from Dalits. The Centre wants to limit everything for Dalits and Nitish Kumar over here is sitting with folded legs and hands."

On Monday, Rajak and Chaudhary had issued a joint statement that did not go down too well in their party.

The duo alleged a conspiracy by the central government to do away with quotas, and even said that JDU MLAs were silent because they feared denial of ticket in the next Assembly polls. While Rajak demanded that the state government implement the right to education law, Chaudhary questioned Nitish's seven resolves saying Dalit students do not need scholarships, they need reservation in jobs.

Lalu also alleged that Nitish has always been anti-reservation and does not believe in doing anything for Dalits.

RJD MLA from Hilsa Shakti Yadav even claimed that many JDU leaders are not happy with Nitish and they are contact with Lalu and rebel JDU leader Sharad Yadav to switch sides.

"Many JDU MLAs are in constant touch with Lalu ji and Sharadji," Shakti said on Wednesday. "There is anger among the JDU MLAs because the decision-making leaders have been kept out from the cabinet. Only those who are in the pocket of Nitish have become ministers. I must say that the government is going to collapse soon."

HAMS chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, an archrival of Chaudhary who defeated him the Assembly election, in turn, attacked the grumbling JDU duo. "Both Shyam and Uday Narayan Chaudhary are greedy people and they have nothing to do with the reservation of Dalits," Manjhi said. "Where were they when I was being sacked as chief minister of the state? Why did they not raise their voice in support of a Dalit CM? Why did they keep on criticising me? I had taken a measures decision for land reform but they never supported me.

"They have not done anything for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes," he added. "What they are doing today is shedding crocodile tears."

Asked to react to Manjhi's comments, Chaudhary said he was not bothered with what others say.