'Told Guv To Dissolve State Govt': JDU Chief Nitish Kumar Says 'Will Form New Alliance'

JDU Chief Nitish Kumar is likely to form new state government with BJP's support. 

After submitting his resignation on Sunday, JDU Chief Nitish Kumar said that he has asked the Governor Rajendra Arlekar to dissolve the state government, news agency ANI reported. "Today, I have resigned as the Chief Minister and I have also told the Governor to dissolve the government in the state," said JD(U) president Nitish Kumar.

"Will leave the earlier alliance and form a new alliance," he stated, adding that "things were not working out well, therefore I had to resign."

Speaking with media, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde said: "In the legislative party meeting...all MLAs unanimously passed the proposal to form the NDA government in Bihar with BJP, JD(U) and other NDA allies for the welfare of the people in the state. Samrat Chaudhary has been elected as the Leader of the legislative party, Vijay Sinha elected as the Deputy Leader."

Kumar's departure from the Mahagathbandhan, which he had joined less than 18 months ago, is a major blow to the opposition coalition INDIA. He joined alliance with the RJD, created by his erstwhile arch-rival Lalu Prasad, in August 2022 after severing relations with the BJP, accusing it of attempting to foment a split in the JD (U).

With 79 MLAs, the RJD is the largest party in the Bihar legislature and a member of the Mahagathbandhan, which also includes the Congress and three Left parties. After Nitish Kumar's JD(U) withdraws, the Mahagathbandhan loses eight MLAs from its majority in the assembly.