Amarnath Tewary Patna
Political history repeated itself in Bihar after five years when Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar did a turnaround on Tuesday and joined hands again with the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which he had dumped in 2017 on the issue of corruption. This time, Mr. Kumar parted ways with the BJP and was elected leader of the RJD-led Mahagatbandhan (grand alliance).
He staked claim before Governor Phagu Chouhan to form the next government with the support of 164 MLAs from seven parties. “Will never compromise on the issue of corruption and do service to people of Bihar along with others,” Mr. Kumar told mediapersons after returning from the Raj Bhavan.
Asked when he would be taking oath, he said, “It is up to the Governor to give time for the swearing-in ceremony.” However, later it was informed that Mr. Kumar will be taking oath as Chief Minister at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
After several flip-flops, Mr. Kumar this time would be taking oath as Chief Minister for the eighth time since he first came to power in March 2000.
After submitting his resignation, Mr. Kumar told journalists, “In today’s [Tuesday’s] meeting of all my party MPs, MLAs, Council members and leaders, they expressed their desire to snap ties with the BJP. Immediately I accepted their desire and came to the Raj Bhavan to resign from my post of NDA’s Chief Minister”.
Rebellion worries
Asked what was the problem with the BJP, Mr. Kumar added, “bahut din se chal hi raha tha…mere log aapko baad mein bata denge (It was going on for several days… my people will let you know later)”. It is said Mr. Kumar was upset with the BJP since he got evidence of at least six of his party MLAs and two Ministers being approached and lured by someone on behalf of the BJP to split the party.
Earlier, JD(U) national party president Rajeev Ranjan Singh, aka Lalan Singh, told mediapersons that he had got all these audio evidence and “let the time come, will expose them as well”.
The buzz in political circles is that former JD(U) president and ex-Union Steel Minister R.C.P. Singh, who recently resigned from the party over alleged charges of corruption, was behind luring the JD(U) legislators and Ministers on behalf of the BJP, to damage Mr. Kumar and his party. Asked about Mr. R.C.P. Singh, Mr. Kumar quipped, “Maine iss aadmi ko kya se kya bana diya aur… (I took this man from where to what and…).”
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