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Nitish gives indication of taking back resignation
New Delhi, July 16: After two days of sulking, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar tonight gave indications of taking back his resignation from the Cabinet following a mediation effort by rebel MP Prabhunath Singh who was said to have been the provocation for Kumar`s decision on Monday.
New Delhi, July 16: After two days of sulking, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar tonight gave indications of taking back his resignation from the Cabinet following a mediation effort by rebel MP Prabhunath Singh who was said to have been the provocation for Kumar's decision on Monday.
At the end of day-long mediatory efforts beginning with Defence Minister and Samata Party leader George Fernandes meeting Kumar followed by parleys involving some other MPs, capped by a two-hour discussion Singh had with him, the rebel MP told reporters that "Kumar will definitely withdraw his resignation".
However, there was no word from Kumar on his plans. He refused to meet reporters. "There has been a meeting of minds. There are no differences now. No body is bigger than the party and if the party desires that he should take back his resignation, he cannot defy it," he said.
Earlier in the day, Fernandes met Kumar at his residence for over two hours to mollify his party colleague who had resigned in the wake of charges of corruption levelled by party MP Brahmanand Mandal, whose expulsion Singh wanted to be revoked. However, indications that the problem could be resolved came when Fernandes told reporters before leaving for Patna that the issue would be sorted out by tomorrow.
Angered by Singh advocating Mandal's case, Kumar announced his resignation at the party's national council saying there was no discipline in the party and Fernandes was lax about it.
Even after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee rejected his resignation, Kumar refused to take it back and did not go to work in Rail Bhawan.
Earlier, Prabhunath Singh, MP, whose demand for expulsion of his two party MPs Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal triggered a crisis in the party leading to the resignation by Kumar from the government, told reporters that he had received a telephonic call from Kumar inviting him for a cup of tea. "I have accepted his invitation and I will go to his place," he said.
Bihar Samata Party president Bashisth Narain Singh, who had separate meetings with Fernandes, Kumar and Prabhunath Singh, said he was "hopeful" of an early solution.
Besides Prabhunath Singh and Basistha Narain Singh, party MP Arun Kumar was also present at the late night meeting with Kumar at his residence.
Asked if they discussed the expulsion of Mandal and Jha, Prabhunath Singh said, "It is not a big issue. The moment one realises his mistake, the party should take him back. He need not even go to the extent of apologising."
Bureau Report
However, there was no word from Kumar on his plans. He refused to meet reporters. "There has been a meeting of minds. There are no differences now. No body is bigger than the party and if the party desires that he should take back his resignation, he cannot defy it," he said.
Earlier in the day, Fernandes met Kumar at his residence for over two hours to mollify his party colleague who had resigned in the wake of charges of corruption levelled by party MP Brahmanand Mandal, whose expulsion Singh wanted to be revoked. However, indications that the problem could be resolved came when Fernandes told reporters before leaving for Patna that the issue would be sorted out by tomorrow.
Angered by Singh advocating Mandal's case, Kumar announced his resignation at the party's national council saying there was no discipline in the party and Fernandes was lax about it.
Even after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee rejected his resignation, Kumar refused to take it back and did not go to work in Rail Bhawan.
Earlier, Prabhunath Singh, MP, whose demand for expulsion of his two party MPs Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal triggered a crisis in the party leading to the resignation by Kumar from the government, told reporters that he had received a telephonic call from Kumar inviting him for a cup of tea. "I have accepted his invitation and I will go to his place," he said.
Bihar Samata Party president Bashisth Narain Singh, who had separate meetings with Fernandes, Kumar and Prabhunath Singh, said he was "hopeful" of an early solution.
Besides Prabhunath Singh and Basistha Narain Singh, party MP Arun Kumar was also present at the late night meeting with Kumar at his residence.
Asked if they discussed the expulsion of Mandal and Jha, Prabhunath Singh said, "It is not a big issue. The moment one realises his mistake, the party should take him back. He need not even go to the extent of apologising."
Bureau Report