Nitish Kumar said he had asked Tejashwi to explain charges of corruption against him. (Express photo)
Nitish Kumar will take oath as the chief minister of Bihar on Thursday, a day after he resigned from the post citing corruption cases against RJD leaders of the Grand Alliance, including Tejashwi Yadav. Immediately after he stepped down, Kumar was offered support by the BJP, a former ally of the JD(U). Kumar will take oath tomorrow at 5 pm. The BJP has submitted its letter of support to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. Talking to the media, BJP leader Sushil Modi said his party is comfortable working under Nitish Kumar.
Earlier today, Kumar tendered his resignation to Tripathi following a meeting of JD(U) MLAs, in which the latter reportedly endorsed his decision to quit.
Meanwhile, talking to the media, Kumar said he took the decision to step down in the interest of the state. “Ever since the corruption charges were levelled against RJD leaders, we have been asking them to at least explain those charges. We also met Tejashwi and told him that the image that is being created, he should clarify all that. But this did not happen. The situation got so worse that it became difficult for me to work. We had followed the Gathbandhan Dharma and had tried to protect it. But now my conscience does not allow me to continue,” he said.
Read: Nitish was always comfortable with BJP: Sushil Modi. Click here.
Kumar also said that he had spoken to Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, regarding the matter. “There are many Congress leaders in Bihar. We also asked them to find a solution to all this. So now I have decided to keep myself away,” he said.
Also read: Is Bihar Grand Alliance dead? Here is what Nitish Kumar said after his resignation as Chief Minister. Click here.
The meeting on Wednesday was chaired by Kumar amid a rift with RJD over the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Kumar’s resignation came hours after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav reiterated that his Tejashwi would not step down. “Tejashwi Yadav will not resign, Nitish Kumar didn’t ask for his resignation,” Lalu had said at a press briefing. He had maintained that there is no bitterness between him and Kumar. “No bitterness between me and Nitish. Spoke to him yesterday. Media trying to crack our alliance,” Lalu Prasad added.
Following Kumar’s resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating him on his decision. Nitish later took to Twitter to thank the PM.
हमने जो निर्णय लिया उसपर माननीय प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi के ट्वीट के द्वारा दी गई प्रतिक्रिया के लिए उन्हें तहेदिल से धन्यवाद.
Bihar: Meeting of BJP-JDU MLAs & leaders at Nitish Kumar’s residence in Patna. pic.twitter.com/CjgPKNmEXV
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 2017
Here are live updates:
2.45 am: The Bihar Governor has invited Tejashwi and five other RJD MLAs for discussion.
2.30 am: Tejashwi Yadav marches towards the Raj Bhavan accompanied by other RJD members
March to Governor house pic.twitter.com/Rp4KHugj9X
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 26, 2017
1.29 am: Sushil Modi says, “We have submitted a letter with support of 132 MLAs. We have been given the time of 10 am, today, for swearing in,” reports ANI. Sushil Modi is expected to take oath too, as Deputy CM.
1.18 am: Tejashwi claims Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony has been rescheduled to 10 am on Thursday, an hour after the Governor allotted time to meet members of the RJD. “We are going to governor house to stage the dharna if not called for being the single largest party,” he tweets.
Governor gv us time of 11AM and now suddenly has asked NDA for oath ceremony at 10AM. Why so much hurry & rush Mr. Honest & Moral?
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 26, 2017
Half of JDU MLAs in our touch therefore Nitish Ji rushing to Raj Bhawan in midnight. Listen the inner voice of ur MLAs also
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 26, 2017
1.14 am: Reacting to developments on Wednesday, Tejashwi Yadav took to Twitter to say, “If Nitish Ji is proud of his moral values and honesty, he would not had been in midnight rush to stake claim for the government. Honest man doesn’t fear. Nitish Ji if you have belief in your morality and honesty than why have you caged JDU MLAs in your house. Free them, ,they will tell your morality rate.”
राज्यपाल से मिलने का माँगा समय।सबसे बड़ा दल होने के नाते करेंगे सरकार बनाने का दावा।BJP के ख़िलाफ़ चुनकर आए जदयू विधायको का भी मिलेगा समर्थन
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 26, 2017
12:28 am Tejashwi Yadav along with RJD delegation will meet Bihar Governor KN Tripathi at 11 am on Thursday, to stake claim for forming government.
11:20 pm Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi reaches Raj Bhavan after being discharged from hospital.
10:33 pm Nitish Kumar to take oath as CM of Bihar at 5 pm tomorrow.
10:32 pm: BJP leader Sushil Modi submits letter of support, to Nitish Kumar, to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
10:24 pm Bihar Governor KN Tripathi admitted to Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, due to an ENT (Ear, nose, throat) problem.
09:47 pm Sushil Modi, Nityanand Rai and other BJP MLAs reach Nitish Kumar’s residence in Patna for a meeting of JDU-BJP MLAs
09:28 pm BJP’s JP Nadda and Sanjay Mayukh to visit Patna on Thursday.
09:13 pm BJP and JDU MLAs to meet Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi
09:00 pm “Nityanand Rai Ji & I called Nitish Ji. BJP decides to support him, will support the government formed under him. Will inform Governor also”, says Sushil Modi.
08:40 pm Meeting underway at Lalu Yadav’s residence in Patna. Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and senior RJD leaders present.
8:23pm Lalu Prasad says that it’s a grand alliance, the Chief Minsiter has resigned, all three parties should have a meeting and elect the next leader for Bihar.
8:30 pm KC Tyagi says RJD has become untouchable for us.
8:20 pm “BJP does not favour mid-term poll in Bihar, wants all legislators to complete their term”, says Sushil Modi
8:17 pm “I’m targeted because I’m challenging Modi-Shah’s dictatorship & forging opposition unity to save country & constitution”, remarks Lalu Yadav.
8:06 pm Lalu Prasad Yadav addresses media gathering at his residence. “Ye (Nitish Kumar) mile hue hain BJP, RSS se. Kya setting hai, PM Modi turant tweet kar diye, Nitish Kumar ko badhaai de diye”, says Lalu.
8:10 pm BJP welcomes battle against corruption in Bihar. Not in favour of mid-term elections: JP Nadda after BJP Parliamentary Board meet
8:09 pm: We are deeply disappointed by the news of Nitish Kumar’s resignation. Congress respect Nitish Kumar as a leader: Randeep Surjewala
8:08 pm Mahagathbandhan was given a 5-year mandate by people of Bihar. We shall continue to strive the mandate given is fully respected: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala
8:06 pm Modi involved in all this crisis. He has congratulated Nitish after his resignation. I am reading all this. Clear involvement of Modi: Lalu
8:05 pm We have not broken the alliance. It’s Nitish who has gone away. Alliance is intact: Lalu
8:01 pm: Lalu Yadav hits out at Nitish Kumar. I advise him (Nitish) not to sit on the lap of the BJP’. “Earlier they were scared of Lalu, now they got scared by my son,” said Lalu
8:00 pm: Let MLAs of JDU, RJD and Congress select a new chief minister of Bihar: Lalu Yadav
7:58 pm I do not wish to push the state towards president rule. We are the single largest party in the state. It’s our right to form the government. But you (Nitish) can go with the BJP: Lalu
7:56 pm When Nitish was asked whether he is joining the BJP, he did not say no. I know has done deal with BJP: Lalu Yadav
7:55 pm Nitish met me and took my blessing before submitting his resignation. I advised him to resign but he said, he could not stay: Lalu
7:55 pm Had told Nitish that corruption cases against us are false. Resignation of Nitish painful: Lalu Yadav
7:54 pm Nitish Kumar knew that he is accused of section 302, one of India’s CM is main accused in murder and arms case: Lalu Prasad Yadav
7:54 pm: Lalu Yadav addresses press conference
7:40 pm: We are happy that Bihar CM didn’t compromise on issue of corruption and did not kneel down before RJD: Sushil Modi
7:36 pm A meeting of BJP MLAS took place soon after Kumar’s resignation
Bihar: Visuals from meeting of BJP MLAs that took place in Patna. pic.twitter.com/PZoeD1hvrA
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 2017
7:35 pm: We are not in favour of mid-term elections in Bihar: Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP after Nitish Kumar’s resignation
7:11 pm: PM Modi has tweeted on Kumar’s resignation. भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई में जुड़ने के लिए नीतीश कुमार जी को बहुत-बहुत बधाई। सवा सौ करोड़ नागरिक ईमानदारी का स्वागत और समर्थन कर रहे हैं (Many congratulation to Nitish Kumar on his fight against corruption. 125 cr people welcome his decision)
भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई में जुड़ने के लिए नीतीश कुमार जी को बहुत-बहुत बधाई।
सवा सौ करोड़ नागरिक ईमानदारी का स्वागत और समर्थन कर रहे हैं— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017
7:10 pm देश के, विशेष रूप से बिहार के उज्जवल भविष्य के लिए राजनीतिक मतभेदों से ऊपर उठकर भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ एक होकर लड़ना,आज देश और समय की माँग है
(For a glorious future of India and specially Bihar, fight against corruption above political ideologies is the need of the hour.)
भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई में जुड़ने के लिए नीतीश कुमार जी को बहुत-बहुत बधाई।
सवा सौ करोड़ नागरिक ईमानदारी का स्वागत और समर्थन कर रहे हैं— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017
7:07 pm: Before resigning, I had informed Laluji and Congress Bihar in-charge CP Joshi: Nitish Kumar
