Amid ongoing tussle between alliance partners Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United), Nitish Kumar has stepped down as Bihar chief minister. Kumar submitted his resignation to Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhavan in Patna today. After meeting the Governor, Kumar told reporters that he was left with no option but to quit as chief minister.
Asserting that he would never compromise on corruption, Kumar said that it was difficult to work under current circumstances. He also said that he had also asked Lalu Yadav to explain the allegations of corruption on his son.
” I felt that for a person like me it was not possible to run this government. I don’t want to create a dispute… When I saw there was no other way… I broke myself away,” he added.
Taking potshots at the Yadav family, Kumar said, “Gandhiji always said needs can be met on the earth, but greed can never be fulfilled.” A new political alliance may be in the offing as BJP had said weeks ago that it is willing to lend external support to keep Nitish Kumar.
He also said that the Governor has accepted his resignation, and asked him to continue working till the next development.
Earlier today, the Chief Minister met lawmakers from his party, the Janata Dal United or JDU, discussing how to tackle the issue of his Deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, amid accusations in land-for-hotels case. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has already ruled out Tejashwi’s resignation who is caught in a corruption scandal.
Nitish Kumar resigns as Chief Minister of Bihar. pic.twitter.com/T44tN3cNiY
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 2017
The governor reportedly changed his travel plans to stay back for the meeting requested by the Chief Minister.
Patna: #Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on his way to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. pic.twitter.com/y9u9i4lcG7
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 2017
Meanwhile Lalu has blamed the Bharatiya Janat Party for the present crisis in the alliance. He said, “The BJP is eagerly eyeing the return of Nitish Kumar with them … I am watching everything.”
