The Hindu : Bihar Samata MLAs rally round Nitish

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

National

National

Bihar Samata MLAs rally round Nitish

By K. Balchand

PATNA JULY 16. The Samata Legislature Party in Bihar today rallied behind the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, and urged him to withdraw his resignation in the "greater interest of the State and nation."

The meeting, attended by 24 of 29 MLAs led by Upendra Prasad Kushwaha, discussed the situation that led to Mr. Kumar's resignation from the Union Cabinet. The meeting justified Mr. Kumar's action in the face of the provocative statements made against him at the National Council meeting in Delhi.

The meeting characterised as improper the demand to reconsider the expulsion of two MPs, Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal, but avoided targeting Prabhunath Singh, MP, who launched the tirade against Mr. Kumar. The legislative wing clearly did not want to make it seem that it was crossing the limit.

However, Mr. Kushwaha maintained that it was for the central leadership to take the matter into consideration and act accordingly. The legislators did not want any reconsideration of the expulsion of the two MPs from the party.

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