Bihar CM Nitish Kumar resigns

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned on Tuesday. Kumar submitted his resignation letter to Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhawan. 

Nitish Kumar, who went to Raj Bhavan alone, 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.

Asked about the dispute between him and BJP, he left the question unanswered.

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

Sources said that 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.

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 of Mahagathbandhan to Nitish Kumar, he may recommend the name of Nitish Kumar only.

Nitish to continue as CM, RJD to get Dy CM & Speaker's post, say sources

However, amid hectic political activities in Patna, sources said a broad consensus on the government formation has been built, which includes retaining Nitish Kumar as the chief minister, Tejaswi Yadav the Deputy Chief Minister and Speaker from the RJD.

The promise of five lakh jobs for the youths is also one of the key points of RJD's reunion with JD(U) .

The RJD had mooted the idea of public welfare and its manifesto had promised 10 lakh jobs.

"The first decision will be the announcement of jobs," said an insider, who claimed that there are no differences on the power sharing arrangements.

The Congress is likely to get a ministerial berth after a formula was evolved during the discussions while the Left parties may extend their support from the outside.

Earlier, in the day, the Congress and Left parties handed over the lists of their legislators to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Mandan Mohan Jha, the state president of Congress said: "We will support Nitish Kumar if he leaves the BJP and forms a new government with the help of Mahagathbandhan. We have also given the list of all 19 MLAs of our party to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav."

Mahboob Alam, the MLA of CPI (ML) said: "We have also given the list to Tejashwi Yadav. We will uproot the BJP from power. We are giving support to Nitish Kumar for the formation of a new government.

(With Inputs from IANS)