Patna: Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Friday alleged that the day is not far when chief minister Nitish Kumar will, with the BJP's help, demolish statues built during his father Lalu Prasad's reign.

He was reacting to the spate of vandalisms of statues of B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar and Mahatma Gandhi in different states after Lenin's statue was toppled in Tripura where the Left was voted out in the recent Assembly polls.

"Nitish can do anything to remain in the chief minister's chair," Tejashwi said. "The day is not far when Nitish ji, with help from the BJP, will demolish all those statues that were built in the regime of my father. I'm afraid he will demolish statues of Lohia, JP, Karpoori Thakur, Bhikhari Thakur and B.P. Mandal."

Tejashwi urged people of the state to "beware" of Nitish, saying he was a master of disguise. He asked Nitish to break his silence on the issue of statue vandalism. He also took pot shots at the Champaran Satyagraha centenary year celebrations in the state, saying Nitish had spent over Rs 100 crore for the Champaran celebrations but was not saying a word about statues, including of Gandhiji, being attacked.

"He has spent over Rs 100 crore on the Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations but is silent when Bapu's statue is being attacked," Nitish said. "The chief minister holds a constitutional post. He cannot be selective. If someone is doing wrong, it is his duty to speak out and protest."

On Thursday, RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha had alleged that Nitish was under pressure from the BJP and RSS, which were forcing him to remain silent on the issue.

Tejashwi said it was because of people like Ambedkar and Periyar, who struggled for the people, that Nitish was sitting in the chief minister's chair. "Nitish welcomed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat when he spoke about forming his own military with the help of his swayamsevaks," Tejashwi said. "But he is not saying a word on the issue of statue vandalism. He cannot be selective and speak whenever he wishes to."