MLAs insist on Nitish as CM, target Sharad
CM is reluctant to stay, decision today
Embattled Bihar CM and JD( U) stalwart Nitish Kumar on Sunday found overwhelming support from his party’s MLAs for his leadership of the state government despite the JD( U)’ s debacle in the Lok Sabha polls, but he was still unwilling to resume duty as CM after his resignation a day earlier.
While JD( U) legislators unanimously decided Mr Kumar must continue as CM despite earlier murmurs of dissent by a section of MLAs over his leadership style and calls for his resignation from the triumphant BJP and its LJP and RLSP allies, Mr Kumar sought a day more to decide. His unwillingness, expressed in a sentimental speech at a meeting of party MLAs, led to a stalemate and also saw JD( U) president Sharad Yadav facing protests from many MLAs and hundreds of partymen backing Mr Kumar. Mr Yadav, who himself lost the LS poll in Madhepura, was reportedly determined to prevent Kumar’s continuance as CM and called for the election of a new leader.
State agriculture minister Narendra Singh, a senior JD( U) leader who
● Three rebel RJD MLAs on Sunday resigned from the Bihar Assembly to extend their support to Nitish Kumar after his resignation.
had spoken out against Mr Kumar publicly in the LS poll campaign, himself proposed the JD( U) stalwart’s name for re- election by legislators and strongly argued in favour of Mr Kumar’s continuance. A number of other ministers and JD( U) state chief Vashistha Narayan Singh were among scores of MLAs who urged Mr Kumar to resume duty as
■ Continued from Page 1 chief minister. “I will be glad if the party and party work
ers free me of the CM’s duties so that I can devote more time for party work. I can serve the party better without occupying any such
constitutional post. I can get the JD( U) to win massively in the next polls,” Mr Kumar was quoted as having said in his speech. He
resigned along with his entire Cabinet on Saturday, taking moral responsibility for the JD( U)’ s fall from 20
Lok sabha seats won in 2009 to just two in 2014. Hundreds of JD( U) workers hailing from across Bihar demonstrated outside Mr Kumar’s official residence on Sunday and shouted slo
gans in his support. They briefly prevented Mr Yadav’s entry and later heckled land and revenue minister Ramai
Ram as he had recently aired his displeasure at Mr Kumar’s management of
party affairs. While it is possible that Mr Kumar may be persuaded to continue as CM, JD( U) leaders considered the names of senior ministers Narendra
Narayan Yadav and Brijendra Yadav as his replacement if Mr Kumar does not change his mind.