EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL,

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to resign without recommending the dissolution of the state assembly has been termed as a “drama” and an attempt to “emotionally blackmail” dissident MLAs by the BJP and its alliance partners – Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP and Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP.

“Kumar’s resignation is just a drama aimed at preventing rebel MLAs, who are in a mood to revolt. He has a history of resigning and again joining the same government. After Gaisal rail accident in 1999, he had resigned and again joined after sometime”, BJP leader Sushil Modi tweeted.

“The JD(U) MLAs would again re-elect him as their leader and he will withdraw his resignation, saying he is doing it under pressure of the MLa's. This is Nitishdharma," he added.

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan – buoyed with his party’s impressive win in the Lok Sabha elections - predicted assembly elec- tions in the state around October, asserting that both Kumar’s JD(U) and Lalu Prasad’s RJD would be routed.

“Both Kumar and Prasad have been rendered irrelevant to Bihar politics. The phase of NDA rule in the state will now begin”, Paswan told HT.

Upendra Kushwaha of the RLSP – another BJP ally – said that Kumar must seek a fresh mandate from the people.

BJP state president Mangal Pandey said that several JD(U) legislators wanted to join the BJP, adding that a decision in the matter would be taken in the best interest of the state.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad said he did not have any idea for the reason behind the chief minister's resignation.

"How things will evolve, only time will tell," he added. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmad said Kumar has resigned on "moral ground". "But I feel he might have done due to his discomfort in dealing with Narendra Modi as prime minister," he added.