BJP hands over to Bihar Governor letter of support to Nitish Kumar

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar resigned on Wednesday, dumping RJD over corruption charges against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

Pic courtesy: ANI

Patna: The BJP on Wednesday night handed over to Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi the letter extending support to Nitish Kumar for forming the next government in the state.

State BJP chief Nityanand Rai and senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi drove to Raj Bhavan late on Wednesday evening and handed over the letter.

JD(U) and NDA allies together have 129 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, seven more than the magic figure of 122.

When asked if he would return as the deputy chief minister, Modi laughed and said the BJP's central leadership would decide the issue, as per PTI.

In dramatic developments in Bihar, Nitish earlier today resigned as CM dumping the RJD and Congress to stitch a new alliance with BJP, which quickly announced support to a new government under him and said it will join it too.

Ending a 20-month-long coalition of the Grand Alliance that defeated the BJP in 2015, Nitish met the Governor in the evening and handed his resignation claiming he can't work in the "current circumstances" following corruption charges against Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

"I have been doing my best to provide good governance... But the circumstances have so developed that it was difficult for a person like me to continue to be in power. That is why I met the Governor and gave my resignation," he told reporters outside Raj Bhavan, as per IANS.

Shortly after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the developments in Bihar.

"Many many congratulations to Nitish Kumar for joining the fight against corruption. 125 crore citizens of the country welcome and support this honest move," the Prime Minister tweeted. 

"It is the need of the hour to rise above political differences for the bright future of Bihar and unite in the fight against corruption," he added. 

Nitish Kumar responded: "I am thankful to Narendra Modi for supporting the decision I took."

(With Agency inputs)