Now, Lalu eyes mangoes in Nitish courtyard

 It happens only in Bihar, where humour and politics go hand in hand. The custody battle for mango, litchi and jackfruit trees in Bihar CM's residence has now become a triangle and taken a new political twist, as RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has laid claim over the fruits, days after Nitish Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi sparred over it.

"Litchi, <g data-gr-id="34">aam</g> <g data-gr-id="30">ke</g> pedo par <g data-gr-id="31">mera</g> <g data-gr-id="32">aur</g> Rabri ka <g data-gr-id="33">haq</g> hai. <g data-gr-id="35">Humne</g> hi <g data-gr-id="36">waha</g> <g data-gr-id="37">ke</g> <g data-gr-id="39">ped</g> <g data-gr-id="38">lagaye</g> they (I and Rabri have first right over mango and litchi trees. We had planted them there)," said Lalu, also a former CM, giving a new twist to the mango and litchi controversy, which is spicing up Bihar's political atmosphere.

The outspoken Yadav <g data-gr-id="22">leader,</g> told reporters in <g data-gr-id="27">Araria</g> that those trees were planted during his and Rabri Devi's subsequent tenures. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi had earlier accused present CM Nitish Kumar of having deployed a 24 policemen to guard mango, litchi and jackfruit trees at 1, Anne Marg Bungalow.

"This reflects the narrow mindset of Nitish," Manjhi had alleged, adding, "This has been done to prevent a Scheduled Caste leader from eating the fruits."

When Nitish Kumar was asked clear air over the issue, he said in a lighter vein that: "Had the matter been brought to my knowledge earlier I would have got all the mangoes and litchis in trees in 1, Anne Marg plucked and given it to its present occupant (Manjhi)."

"And if there are some rules involving the cost, I would have paid the amount from my salary for that," Nitish had said, adding that "I am concerned about <g data-gr-id="25">awaam</g> (people), and he (Manjhi) about <g data-gr-id="26">aam</g> (mango)."