After a series of dramatic events, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday took over as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the sixth time.
In what is seen as a body blow to the Opposition unity in Bihar, Mr. Kumar resigned as Chief Minister on Wednesday. He cited "irreconcilable differences" with ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on the issue of corruption charges against his former deputy Tejashwi Yadav .
What followed this move was a “scripted” sequence of events, according to a Congress leader - the BJP swiftly moved in, praising Mr. Kumar’s action , and giving its letter of support to a government headed by him.
Mr. Kumar met Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Wednesday night to stake claim to form a government with the support of the BJP, hours after he resigned.
Here are the Thursday updates:
RJD to knock at ''people's door''
The RJD said it would move court as well as knock at the “people’s door” to protest against the Bihar Governor’s invitation to the JD(U) and the NDA to form a government in in “blatant violation” of a Supreme Court judgement.
Rashtriya Janata Dal national spokesman Manoj Jha said the party would “knock at the court’s door, as well as that of the janata ki adalat [people’s court]” to tell the people about the “conspiracy” hatched by the BJP.
“The Governor’s decision amounts to the murder of the spirit of the S R Bommai judgment,” Mr. Jha told reporters outside the residence of RJD leader and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna.
“According to the S R Bommai case judgment, it is mandatory to call the single largest party or electoral block first to explore the formation of a government,” he said.
The Governor’s decision to invite Nitish Kumar to form a government with the BJP was a “blatant violation” of the judgment, he said.
JD(U) to support BJP in Parliament
JD(U) national spokesperson K C Tyagi announced that the party would support the BJP-led NDA government in both the Houses of Parliament.
Asked whether the JD(U) would join the Modi government, he said, “It is for the party leadership to decide. Let our party president and senior BJP leaders discuss the matter. Only after that we can make a comment on it.”
’They pursued vendetta against me’, says Tejashwi
Mr. Tejashwi Yadav said the JD(U) and the BJP pursued a “vendetta politics” against him.
“My performance perturbed our ally and the BJP. Vendetta against me exposes their viciousness”, he said in a tweet.
“I entered in govt with a clean slate with a keen desire of writing a positive story for people of Bihar, only to find an opportunist rival,” Mr. Tejashwi said in another tweet.
Mr. Yadav had said the swearing-in of a new dispensation was a “pre-planned conspiracy“.
“Past baggage, though unjustified, didn’t perturb me when I was entrusted to carry the expectations of people’s mandate, in the role of Dy CM”, he said in another tweet.
We are all shocked: CPI on Bihar developments
Expressing shock over the political developments in Bihar, the Communist Party of India (CPI) said Nitish Kumar should have waited till the court verdict on corruption charges against Tejashwi Yadav.
“It’s an unfortunate, negative development. We are all shocked though we knew the crisis was deepening,” CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said.
“We believe his urge for clean government... that is understandable but just an allegation (against Tejashwi Yadav) with political motive by the Central government need not be taken as a confirmation of corruption case,” Reddy said.
“I think he (Nitish Kumar) should have waited till the court decides on these issues,” he added.
He was also asked if Bihar’s political developments are a huge setback to the opposition’s unity.
“Definitely to some extent. But in other states it will not have any effect. Only in Bihar it will have an effect. It’s an advantage for BJP, naturally.”
Mr. Reddy also said he is sure the people of Bihar would not accept the new JDU—BJP dispensation under Nitish Kumar.
“Definitely, people will rally behind secular forces. We are confident of this.”
It is opportunism, treachery with people’s mandate: Cong
The Congress described Nitish Kumar’s joining hands with BJP to remain in power as “rank opportunism and treachery with people’s mandate” and said it was “a black day” for Indian democracy.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that Mr. Kumar had pledged never to join hands with the BJP and alleged that his mask of “big talks and self professed honesty” stands exposed, with his sole principle being “power at any cost, power at all costs“.
Recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had questioned Mr. Kumar’s “political DNA” ahead of 2015 elections, he said, “It has been proved today that the political DNA of BJP and JD(U) is identical — opportunism, treachery, hunger for power and disregard of people’s mandate“.
“In Bihar, every political and democratic principle was murdered in broad daylight and a government of BJP-JD(U) has been formed, which is neither people’s mandate nor does it have the authority to rule. This is a black day indeed for Indian democracy,” the Congress leader said.
Mr. Surjewala said it is an affront to the people’s mandate and a “double whammy” for democracy that within 20 months, the politics of opportunism was repeated “when a party rejected by the people and a leader hungry for power at any cost formed a government overnight“.
He said in November 2015, the people of Bihar rejected the leadership of Narendra Modi and the policies of BJP and the mandate of people was in favour of the policies, principles and leadership of ‘Mahagathbandhan’
“Nitish Kumar and JD(U) were never given the mandate to rule Bihar alone by the people and the BJP was decisively rejected. The new BJP-JD(U) government is founded on political conspiracy rather than people’s mandate and has no right to continue even for a day as it is an affront to the mandate given by people of Bihar,” he said.
Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s claims that he knew of the plan for 3-4 months, Mr. Surjewala said the Congress leadership believed in the words of Nitish Kumar who proclaimed never to join hands with the BJP.
He also accused Nitish Kumar of changing not only his leanings but also his “dharma”. He said this is not the first time he has done so and cited previous cases when he ditched many a leader.
On opposition unity, he said, it is intact and all political parties are together.
Goa CM congratulates Nitish, says Bihar back on growth path
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed the hope that under the new JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar, the State will be back on the path of development.
Mr. Parrikar congratulated Mr. Kumar for taking over as the Chief Minister of Bihar once again with the BJP’s support.
“Congratulations to Nitishkumarji and SushilModiji on taking oath as CM and deputy CM,” Mr. Parrikar tweeted.
“Under NDA government, Bihar will be back on development path,” he said.
Nitish decision unfortunate: Kharge
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said it was “unfortunate” that Mr. Kumar had joined hands with the “dictatorial” BJP after seeking votes in the name of “secularism” in the State.
The JD(U), led by Mr. Kumar, contested and won the 2015 Assembly polls with the RJD and the Congress, defeating the BJP-led NDA.
“The grand alliance was formed to bring secular forces together, to fight the dictatorial attitude of the BJP, its attitude of killing democracy,” Mr. Kharge told reporters outside Parliament.
But those who had sought votes in the name of secularism, had embraced the BJP. “This is unfortunate,” Mr. Kharge added.
In an apparent reference to the ostensible reason being cited for Mr. Kumar’s decision to quit the government — corruption charges against Mr. Tejashwi Yadav, Mr. Kharge said the JD(U) chief was “fully aware” of the constituents of the alliance.
“You formed the government in Bihar fully aware of how the grand alliance partners are. You should not have broken the alliance in such a case,” he said.
Dawn of a new era in Bihar: Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Mr. Kumar on the latter being sworn in as the Bihar Chief Minister again. He said a new era has dawned in the North Indian State.
“By resigning over the issue of corruption, Nitish Kumar gave a message that there won’t be any compromise on the issue of corruption,” Mr. Fadnavis told reporters outside the Vidhan Bhawan, where the monsoon session of the State Legislature is under way.
“Our party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded [to him] and as a result, an NDA government under Nitish Kumar’s leadership was sworn in Bihar today,” he said.
“While resigning, Nitish Kumar displayed his honesty. A new era has dawned in Bihar. I congratulate Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi, the new deputy CM,” he said.
Mayawati sees betrayal of Bihar people
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Thursday lashed out at Mr. Kumar for abandoning the grand alliance and forming a government with the BJP. She termed it a “betrayal of the people of Bihar.”
Ms. Mayawati said the Bihar people had voted against the “Modi wave” and handed a full majority to the “secular” parties. That mandate should have been honoured for its full term of five years, she said in an official statement.
Nitish Kumar to seek trust vote on Friday
The new Nitish Kumar-led NDA government will seek a trust vote in the State Assembly on Friday.
“A one-day special session of the Bihar Assembly has been convened tomorrow in which the new government will seek a trust vote,” Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination Department, Brajesh Mehrotra, told reporters.
Two agendas have been set for the session after a brief meeting of the Cabinet comprising the Chief Minister and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi. The first agenda was to cancel the decision of the previous grand alliance government to call a five—day Monsoon Session of the two Houses from July 28 to August 3.
“The second agenda was to convene a one-day special session of the Assembly tomorrow to take up a trust vote,” he said.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has asked the Chief Minister to take a trust vote within two days of swearing-in.
Nitish is greedy for power: Lalu
"Nitish Kumar is greedy for power, he has betrayed the people of Bihar and India," said RJD chief Lalu Prasad. "Nitish Kumar joined hands with the BJP to ensure raids by the CBI, ED on RJD leaders and to malign them."
JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said, "Will support Modi government in both Houses of Parliament."
Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said, "My performance perturbed our ally and BJP, vendetta against me exposes their viciousness."
PM congratulates Nitish
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nitish Kumar after the latter was sworn in as Chief Minister. Mr. Modi said he was looking forward to working together for Bihar’s progress and prosperity.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said, "We knew that it was being planned for the last three to four months." "Bihar had given an anti-communal mandate but Nitish Kumar has gone back to them [the BJP] for his personal political gains."
Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi too took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. It is said that other ministers will take oath after the NDA government proves its majority within two days time given by the Governor.
Nitish Kumar: a tale of U-turns
From joining hands with the BJP in 1996 to switching loyalty to the party in 2017, Mr. Kumar's political career is marked by many U-turns.
‘Those accusing Nitish of opportunism should question RJD’
JD(U) Bihar unit president Bashishtha Narayan Singh dismissed allegations of opportunism against Mr. Kumar.
"Nitish Kumar took this decision in consonance with the kind of politics he has always done which is good governance and zero tolerance for corruption. The first duty of any political leader is to ensue that governance is a priority," he said.
Mr. Kumar has submitted a letter of support from 131 legislators to the Governor. The legislators were from the BJP, the JD(U), the Lok Janshakti Party, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and two Independents
Tejashwi says will move court against Governor's decision
After Mr. Kumar’s meeting with the Governor late on Wednesday night, Mr. Tejashwi Yadav, accompanied by some RJD MLAs and leaders, marched to the Raj Bhawan to meet Mr. Tripathi.
“The RJD being the single largest party should have been invited to form a government. We are taking legal advice and will move court against the Governor’s decision,” he told reporters after the meeting.
He said the people of Bihar had given the grand alliance the mandate to run its government for 5 years but Mr. Kumar has "betrayed" it.
