Supporters claiming allegiance to a few legislators on Thursday clashed in the Bharatiya Janata Party's Patna office protesting against the alleged non-inclusion of their leaders in the ministry.
Shortly before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of the National Democratic Alliance government, several supporters of a senior party MLA from Aurangabad and a few others, who were not likely to be inducted in the first phase, jostled and clashed with those who tried to disperse them.
While senior party leaders preferred to remain inside the office, party's small functionaries tried to placate the agitated party supporters. Angry BJP activists were also seen carrying sticks while trying to force their way inside the party office where top BJP leaders, including party Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, party General Secretary and in-charge of Bihar affairs Arun Jaitley were reportedly engaged in discussions.
Security measures were tightened around the BJP office after the incident. When contacted, state BJP spokesperson Kiran Ghai described the incident as 'unfortunate' and said senior party leaders had taken the matter seriously.