In a major political development, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar chief minister on Wednesday evening leaving the ruling grand alliance crumbled.
"I have resigned for the sake of Bihar," Nitish told media after meeting Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi who accepted his resignation.
The BJP was quick to react to Nitish's resignation and announced its support to him for forming a new government in Bihar, which it said the JD(U) leader has accepted.
Nitish is expected to stake claim to form the new government on Thursday in which BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi is likely to return as deputy chief minister.
"In the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the grand alliance government," he told reporters outside Raj Bhavan. Besides the RJD and the JD(U), Congress is the third constituent in the ruling alliance.
Nitish's resignation came hours after Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav ruled out the resignation of his son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, who faces multiple graft charges.
BJP+JD(U) = 124 (above halfway mark)
"I tried to work it out....I did not ask for anybody's resignation...I just asked Tejashwi to explain the charges of corruption," Nitish said.
He said he told Lalu Prasad, Congress General Secretary C.P. Joshi, who is in-charge of Bihar, and the JD-U Legislature Party before he met the Governor to resign.
Asked if he will now form a government with BJP's support, he said, "Whatever had to happen has happened. Now see what happens next."
Nitish said he had to face a lot of criticism for his decision to support demonetisation, which had caught the people's imagination, and support Ram Nath Kovind -- "who had done a good job as Governor of Bihar and whose becoming the President was a matter of pride for the state".
Modi lauds Nitish
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nitish on breaking alliance with Lalu Yadav.
"Many many congratulations to Nitish Kumar for joining the fight against corruption. 125 crore citizens of the country welcome and support this honest move," the prime minister tweeted.
"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.
Nitish responded: "I am thankful to Narendra Modi for supporting the decision I took."
BJP offers support
Shortly after Modi welcomed the developments in Bihar, BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said his party was against mid-tern polls.
"We will support the government under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. The BJP legislature party has full confidence in Nitish Kumar as its leader. The decision has also been conveyed to Nitish Kumar which he has accepted," Sushil Modi said.
Earlier in the day, Lalu had taken a dig at Nitish saying he was aware of his longtime friend's party'sJD(U)'s - growing bonhomie with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The sudden development throws the politics of Bihar into chaos with no party having a majority in the 243-member Assembly. Kumar's JD(U) has 71 seats, while RJD headed by Tejashwi Yadav's father Lalu Prasad, has 80. The BJP has 53.
Nitish had run a coalition government with BJP. But he resigned and severed ties with the party after it announced Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.
The tiff between JD(U) and RJD began after the CBI conducted multiple raids at the residences and offices of Tejaswi Yadav and other relatives of Lalu Yadav in connection with a corruption case.
(With inputs from agencies)
