Bihar crisis deepens as Nitish wants his deputy to resign

The political drama in Bihar appears to have reached its final leg with JDU party sources saying that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has conveyed to his deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, that he expects his resignation before the state assembly convenes on Friday.

According to JDU sources, the CM has given enough time to Tejashwi to present evidences that CBI raids against him for his alleged involvement in a corruption case, was a result of political witch-hunt by the BJP.

“It has already been three weeks since the FIR was registered against Tejashwi and till now, as was expected from him, he has not presented any substantial proof regarding his innocence.

The CM has given him enough time. Nitish cannot be allowed to be seen as someone who is turning a blind eye to corruption, the RJD should know this”, a senior JDU party source said.

Nitish, who was in Delhi to take part in the swearing in ceremony of the new president, Ram Nath Kovind, told reporters, his first statement since the political drama in Bihar, that “whatever was happening in Patna between the RJD and JDU was for everyone to see and figure out”.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the president of the RJD, called a meeting of party leaders, in which it was decided that the party cannot allow Tejashwi to resign as this would give a wrong message to the voters who had supported the RJD.

The Congress, which is the third party in the grand alliance, has been trying to stop Nitish from removing Tejashwi from the cabinet, albeit unsuccessfully. Last week, Nitish met Congress party Vice president Rahul Gandhi and told him that he cannot let Tejashwi continue in the cabinet.

JDU party sources said that the party was ready for a by-election in case the RJD pulls out of the government and the BJP plays hardball on the question of offering JDU support.

According to JDU sources, the CM has given enough time to Tejashwi to present evidences that CBI raids against him for his alleged involvement in a corruption case, was a result of political witch-hunt by the BJP