The BJP, which lost power in the upheaval the state witnessed earlier this month, raised hell over Kartik’s induction despite his name figuring in a 2014 abduction case.
State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal reacted to the reshuffle with disdain.
“Nitish Kumar is demonstrating that he can get people framed in cases and offer them protection if they become loyal to him. He had extended such a favour to (RJD president) Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi. He is now doing the same to Kartik,” Jaiswal alleged.
State Congress spokesman Asit Nath Tiwari hit back, saying “why have a problem with a cabinet reshuffle in Bihar? Nobody had a problem when Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed portfolios of Union ministers like Piyush Goyal and Smriti Irani”.