Nitish Kumar resigns as chief minister of Bihar, breaks alliance with the BJP

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, on Tuesday, announced his resignation after breaking the alliance with the BJP.

He met governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan alone and announced his resignation to the waiting media after coming out.

"I was the chief minister of Bihar. Now, I have given my resignation from the post of Chief Minister," he said.



Kumar is likely to go with the Mahagathbandhan to form the next government. After submitting his resignation, Nitish met RJD's Tejashwi Yadav at his mother's residence.

RJD and other members of the grand alliance have promised support to JD(U).

Earlier, a meeting of JD(U) MPs and MLAs was held before the chief minister met the governor.

A parallel meeting of the RJD legislators convened by party leader Tejashwi Yadav at his mother Rabri Devi's Circular Road bungalow.

According to PTI sources, addressing a meeting of lawmakers of his Janata Dal-United, Nitish Kumar, levelled allegations against the BJP, saying it was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him.

Nitish Kumar accused the BJP of "horse trading" and giving some party leaders lucrative offers to make them ministers. He said that he has proof of this, as per the PTI sources.

Meanwhile, JD-U MLAs have been asked to stay inside CM's residence.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal also asked MLAs of Mahagathbandhan to stay in senior leader and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence at 10 Circular Road until the decision of the Governor comes.

It is learnt that Nitish Kumar is expecting the Governor to invite him to form the government again, as he has submitted signatures of his party's MLAs, as well as those of the Mahagathbandhan before Bihar governor.

Technically, the RJD is the single-largest party in the Assembly and after Nitish Kumar's resignation, the Governor may invite its leader Tejashwi Yadav to form the government. However, as Tejashwi Yadav has already given documents of support of Mahagathbandhan MLAs to Nitish Kumar, he may recommend the name of Nitish Kumar only.

Currently, BJP holds 77 seats in the Bihar Assembly. JD(U) holds 45, the Congress 19, the Left led by CPIML(L) has 16 and the RJD 79.

(With inputs from PTI)