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Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar CM; says 'It was suffocating', Lalu accuses him of colluding with BJP, RSS

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 26, Jul 2017, 20:53 pm IST | UPDATED: 26, Jul 2017, 21:07 pm IST

Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar CM; says 'It was suffocating', Lalu accuses him of colluding with BJP, RSS Patna: Shaking up national politics, Nitish Kumar today resigned as Bihar's Chief Minister and said it had become impossible for him to function in the coalition government he had formed two years ago with Lalu Yadav and the Congress after the BJP's defeat in the state. "I felt suffocated, my conscience pricked me... there was no other way," he said in comments that were immediately welcomed by the BJP.

"I tried to do my best in 20 months. But in this atmosphere it was simply not possible for me to work in the alliance," Mr Kumar told reporters this evening after meeting Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

Hours before Mr Kumar's abrupt resignation, RJD chief Lalu Yadav had defiantly ruled out son Tejashwi's resignation as Deputy Chief Minister over corruption charges. Mr Yadav's stance set the wheels turning and a big announcement before the day ended was almost certain.

But instead of forcing Tejashwi's exit, as had been widely speculated, Mr Kumar stunned everyone by resigning.

"I waited enough. I never asked anyone to resign. I asked Tejashwi to explain the charges to the people," Mr Kumar said.

"It wouldn't be right if I didn't take a stand, I don't do politics of this kind," he said, apparently referring to the Yadavs, who are accused of acquiring prime land illegally and were recently raided by the CBI.

He did not rule out taking the BJP's support to form a new government; in 2013, he had ended ties with the BJP over the party's decision to elevate Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial face. "Whatever had to happen has happened. Now see what happens next," said the 66-year-old once seen as the strongest challenger to PM Modi.

In his brief comments outside the governor's house Raj Bhawan in Patna, Mr Kumar referred to his support to PM Modi's demonetisation - which was seen by many as the first sign that he was gravitating towards the BJP and eager to drop a tainted ally.

"I supported demonetisation as it was in the interest of the public...but I was accused of various things by political parties," he said.

In a series of tweets that emerged almost at the same time as he was speaking to reporters, PM Modi praised Mr Kumar for "joining the fight against corruption".

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says it’s up to Mr. Kumar on aligning with the BJP to form a new government. “The break-up was bound to happen. There is no place for honesty and moral values in Lalu Prasad’s politics. There was no coordination... convenience was the only reason for the alliance (between JD—U and Rashtriya Janata Dal). Such alliance does not work long,” the Union Minister for Law and Justice says in New Delhi.

On the possibility of the BJP extending support to Mr. Kumar, he says: “It is for Nitish Kumar to decide his future course. Nitish Kumar remained a Minister in Atalji’s government (at the Centre). He governed Bihar with the help of the BJP for eight years. We did not leave him, but he left us in 2013.”

The Minister says Mr. Prasad had made it clear that his son Mr. Tejashwi Yadav would not resign from the state Cabinet after allegations of graft.

8.25 pm: PTI reports: Sushil Kumar Modi too echoes high command’s stand, says BJP does not favour mid-term polls in Bihar, wants all legislators to complete their term.

“We are happy that Nitish Kumar did not compromise on the issue of corruption and did not bow down to the RJD. The BJP is not in favour of mid-term polls and wants that all MLAs complete their term,” he tells reporters in Patna.

State BJP meeting decides that Mr. Sushil Modi and some other leaders will apprise the central party leadership of the developments.

The RJD supremo seizes on the Prime Minister's almost immediate tweet after Mr. Kumar’s resignation announcement. “Ye (Nitish Kumar) mile hue hain BJP, RSS se. Kya setting hai, PM Modi turant tweet kar diye, Nitish Kumar ko badhaai de diye (Nitish Kumar has joined hands with BJP, RSS. What a setting? PM Modi tweets immediately and congratulates Nitish Kumar),” ANI reports quoting Mr. Prasad as saying.

 First official reaction from BJP: Party welcomes battle against corruption in Bihar and the BJP is not in favour of mid-term elections, news agency ANI reports quoting Health Minister J.P. Nadda as saying after BJP Parliamentary Board meeting.

PTI reports: Three-member panel formed in Bihar to talk to BJP MLAs and report to leadership for final call, says Mr. Nadda.

Congress reaction as reported by ANI: “Mahagathbandhan was given a 5 year mandate by people of Bihar. We shall continue to strive the mandate given is fully respected,” parry spokesman says R. Surjewala.

If the BJP and its allies extend support to Mr. Kumar and he chooses to accept it, the numbers of the new arrangement will go well past the half-way mark at 129.

The sudden development throws the politics of Bihar into chaos with no party having a majority in the 243-member Assembly. Mr. Kumar’s JD(U) has 71 seats, while the RJD has 80. The BJP has 53.
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