Nitish Kumar with Narendra Modi on Saturday. PTI
The BJP and JDU will form the new government in Bihar as both the former allies came together after Nitish Kumar resigned as the chief minister on Wednesday evening. According to reports, Kumar will take oath as the chief minister again at 10 am on Thursday, which was earlier scheduled at 5 pm.
The BJP offered support to the Janata Dal United after it broke the Grand Alliance in Bihar citing corruption cases against RJD leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Hours after Kumar stepped down, Bihar BJP leader Sushil Modi along with Nityanand Rai and other BJP MLAs reached his residence in Patna for a meeting of JDU-BJP MLAs.
After the meeting, both the parties decided to form a new government in Bihar. In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, JD(U) has 71 MLAs and the BJP 53. The two parties together have 124 MLAs, marginally ahead of the half-way mark. Besides, they have the support of NDA allies LJP (02) and RLSP (02).
The BJP handed over to Bihar Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi the letter extending support to Nitish Kumar for forming the next government. State BJP chief Nityanand Rai and senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi drove to Raj Bhavan late this evening and handed over the letter.
Leaders of the JD(U) and NDA constituents in the state are likely to meet the governor again tonight when Kumar will stake claim to form the government.
Their meeting with the governor might get delayed as Tripathi has gone to IGIMS Hospital for a check-up for some ailment, Raj Bhavan sources said.
Modi said BJP would be a part of the new government. When asked if he would return as the deputy chief minister, Modi laughed and said the BJP’s central leadership would decide the issue.
