If Raj Thackeray's "No Biharis" campaign in Mumbai was not enough, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has now exhorted companies in the state to employ locals "not Biharis".

"We will not allow that factories are opened here in Satna and the workers that work there come from Bihar. We will not allow anyone to take the livelihood of our young people by giving it to others", he said in Satna on Friday.

But as sharp political reactions started pouring in, the chief minister backtracked saying he never meant any offence to Biharis.

"We said that these people are sometimes not skilled workers and therefore they must be given training. This is to protect the locals who lose their land, it was in this context that I made these comments. People from all states are welcome here," clarified Chauhan.

The former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav lost no time in criticizing Chauhan. He said: "Chauhan should apologise or we will launch an agitation."

The Congress was quick to react. Spokesman KK Mishra said in Bhopal: "Thackeray's spirit seems to have entered Chauhan's body."

 In Delhi, Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said: "The Constitution is clear in this regard...any citizen can move anywhere within the country and work...and no government or person is above the Constitution...If a CM speaks like that it is irresponsible and should be criticized.

For the BJP already ridden with infighting and factionalism another controversy is something they can do without, so by end the day Chouhan did a U-turn and said everyone was welcome.