Kochi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U) resigned today bringing an end to the long lasting association with the BJP.
The relationship between the JD(U) and BJP was on a rough path for the last few years. There were reports of BJP trying to engineer a split in JD(U) for its advantage. This was known to Nitish who could no longer bear the bullying by the saffron party.
The resignation of R C P Singh of J(U) the other day accusing the Bihar government of corruption triggered the culmination of the tie-up.
With the option of support from RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, son of its founder Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish had little to think about ending the tie-up.
Earlier, Nitish Kumar had held a meeting of MPs, MLAs to discuss the matter. The leaders are reported to be unanimously behind Nitish.
Tejaswi held a meeting of his party and others like Congress to chalk future plans. The leaders have resolved to support Tejaswi in his association with Nitish.
Nitish had talked to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Tejaswi Yadav over the phone over the developments.
On the other hand, the BJP is monitoring the situation and there are reports of the saffron party holding talks with disgruntled leaders in JD(U) and other parties to form a government.
The BJP meeting was held at Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad’s house. The BJP core Committee meeting will be held later today.
Differences have been simmering between the BJP and JD(U) in the last few years. It came to the fore during the swearing in of the BJP-II government in 2019. Nitish was unhappy with the treatment given to his party while allocating ministers.
Recently Nitish kept off from the function organised to offer sent off to outgoing President Ramnath Kovind and swearing in of the new President Draupadi Murmu.
Holder of an engineering degree, Nitish Kumar has a tremendous track record as Chief Minister.
In the 243 member assembly, the opposition alliance led by RJD had 110 members while the outgoing alliance had 125 members with BJP having 71 and JD(U) 43. RJD had a strength of 75 MLAs.
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