Patna, June 13 (IANS) A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator in the Bihar assembly who is accused in a double murder case is among 11 accorded the status of a minister of state or a deputy minister by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a step likely to cause embarrassment for the government.

The Nitish Kumar government's decision Monday to accord Nityanand Rai, currently out on bail and a known bahubali for his muscle power, the status of a deputy minister has raised eyebrows in political circles here.

The move was seen to silence the growing unrest among the powerful legislators of the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-S)-BJP combine for getting berths in the cabinet.

It contradicts the stand of Nitish Kumar, who soon after taking oath last November had declared that he would not include any tainted or criminal-turned legislators in his government.

Police had declared Rai an absconder and launched a manhunt after he allegedly killed a Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and his brother in Hajipur in 1993. A murder case was registered against him and he was arrested and lodged in jail. He was granted bail last year.

A cabinet minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi, was forced to resign hours after being sworn in on Nov 24 after Nitish Kumar came to know that he was facing corruption charges. That move was widely publicised as a step to give clean governance as promised by Nitish Kumar.

The 11 legislators, including Rai, have been accommodated either as deputy chief, treasurer or divisional whip of the combine in the state assembly to accord them the status of a minister of state or a deputy minister. Three senior legislators have been accorded the status of minister of state.

Rai was appointed one of the nine divisional whips for the nine divisions of the state. He was made divisional whip of Tirhut range, which comprises Vaishali, Samastipur and Muzaffarpur districts.

"It has again exposed the governance of Nitish Kumar and his move to join hands with criminal-turned politicians," Samata Party legislator P.K. Sinha said.

Nitish Kumar is heading a 27-member council of ministers and the expansion of the council has been delayed. He is likely to include 10 more ministers when he goes in for expansion.