Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on Wednesday, dumping RJD over corruption charges against his deputy Tejaswi Yadav, and looked set to join hands with the BJP to form a new government
Nitish Kumar speaks to the media after meeting Governor KN Tripathi yesterday. Pic/PTI
On a day of dramatic developments, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned yesterday, dumping RJD over corruption charges against his deputy Tejaswi Yadav, and looked set to join hands with the BJP to form a new government.
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Kumar, whose resignation was immediately accepted by Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, is expected to stake claim to form the new government today in which Sushil Kumar Modi is likely to return as Deputy Chief Minister.
Also read: Nitish Kumar quits as Bihar Chief Minister, doesn't rule out tie-up with BJP
Citing irreconcilable differences with the senior ally over corruption charges against Tejaswi, son of Lalu Prasad, Kumar announced his resignation after meeting Tripathi, hours after the RJD supremo rejected outright the demand for his son's ouster. Kumar's resignation capped days of stand-off between his party JD(U) and the RJD with the former insisting that Tejaswi defend himself against the allegations.
"In the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the grand alliance government," Kumar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.
The BJP quickly seized the opportunity to reunite with its old ally, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising Kumar for "joining the fight against corruption", saying the entire nation supports his honesty.
The move was seen as an effort to reach out to JD(U), which ended its 17-year association with BJP in 2013. Senior state BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who was Kumar's deputy when the two parties ran a coalition government, said his party has decided to back the JD(U) leader in forming the next government and will be part of it.
Also read: BJP demands Bihar CM Nitish Kumar should resign
In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, JD(U) has 71 MLAs and the BJP 53. The two parties together have 124 MLAs, marginally ahead of the half-way mark. Besides, they have the support of NDA allies LJP (02) and RLSP (02). "Congratulations! Mr Nitish Kumar for joining the fight against corruption."
"1.25 crore people are welcoming and supporting his honesty," PM Modi said in a series of tweets after Kumar's resignation.
"For the bright future of the country, and especially Bihar, it is the need of the hour to rise above political differences and join the fight against corruption," Modi said. Kumar responded with a tweet, "I thank the prime minister from the core of my heart for praising my decision (of quitting)."
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