Decision of Nitish to quit is final: Sharad Yadav

As the political drama unfolds in Bihar, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav on Monday said the decision of Nitish Kumar to quit as Chief Minister is “final”.

Mr. Yadav said this ahead of the JD(U) legislature party meeting to discuss the ongoing situation after Nitish said on Sunday he needed time till Monday to decided on the plea by JD(U) MLAs that he should withdraw his resignation and continue in office.

“The decision (Mr. Nitish Kumar’s resignation) is in favour of the nation, the party and Nitish ji. It was a difficult decision but is final and right,” he said.

Mr. Yadav also ruled out taking support of Lalu Prasad’s RJD in the formation of a new government in Bihar.

“No. Never we have taken and there is no question of taking support from him,” he said when asked if the ruling JD(U) will take the support of RJD.

The political crisis in Bihar arising out of the resignation of Nitish as Chief Minister following the severe drubbing that JD(U) suffered in the Lok Sabha elections remained unresolved on Sunday with the party failing to elect its “new” leader.

All JD(U) MLAs insisted that Nitish should continue, but he refused to do so and sought time till Monday. Many of the legislators even threatened to sit on dharna if he refused to withdraw his resignation, party spokesman Sanjay Singh told reporters on Sunday, a day of fast-paced political developments.

Even as JD(U) MLAs were holding a meeting, a BJP delegation met Governor D.Y. Patil and asked him to insist on a parade of individual MLAs and written support of all supporting parties if Nitish again staked claim to form the government in the State.

Political temperature in Bihar rose amidst reports of efforts at realignment of old ‘Janata Parivar’ with Lalu Prasad and arch rival Nitish coming together to form a strong government in Bihar to keep communal forces away from power.

There were reports of Mr. Yadav and even Nitish talking to Lalu. But, the RJD chief told reporters that these were “baseless and concocted” and denied talking to either of them.