Nitish Kumar Resigns As Bihar Chief Minister, Likely To Form Government Again With BJP's Support

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday (28 January) met Governor Rajendra Arlekar and submitted his resignation.

Kumar is set to form the government again in the state with the support of Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Today, I have resigned as the Chief Minister and I have also told the Governor to dissolve the government in the state," Kumar was quoted as saying by ANI.

This comes as a big setback for the unity of the anti-BJP INDI Alliance as JDU was a major partner in the block.

Ahead of meeting with the Governor, Kumar met with party MLAs.

"I had quit an earlier alliance for a new tie-up. But the situation was not okay. So I have resigned," he told reporters.

Nitish's resignation as CM comes less than 18 months after forming a new government in the state with the support of Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD.

On what comes next, he said "parties will meet and a decision will be taken", NDTV reported.

Kumar is now expected to meet his party legislators before staking claim to for the government in the state with BJP's support.

All BJP MLAs in Bihar have already given letters of support to Nitish Kumar, NDTV reported citing sources.

BJP MLAs and MPs met today at 10 am at the party office in Patna to further chalk out the strategy over the latest political situation in Bihar.

BJP President JP Nadda along with few other BJP leaders will reportedly also reach Patna by special charter flight at 3 pm today. 

The party's political adviser and spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters in Delhi that the grand alliance government in Bihar is on the verge of collapse, and accused a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly "insulting" Kumar.

"The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," he said.