Patna, July 16: The Samata Legislature Party (SLP) in Bihar today came out in strong support of senior party leader and railway minister Nitish Kumar and requested him to withdraw his resignation from the Union Cabinet in the larger interest of the party and the government. At an emergency meeting here, the SLP expressed solidarity with Kumar and unanimously passed a resolution requesting him to take back his resignation, SLP leader upendra Kushwaha told reporters. He said 24 of the 29 party MLAs attended the meeting, adding the rest could not be present as they were out of town. The party currently has a strength of 29 MLAs after the expulsion of two legislators. The members hailed the work done by Kumar in the railway ministry as well as for strengthening the party.

The members described as "genuine and natural" Kumar's reaction over growing indiscipline in the party, peeved over which he announced his resignation from the Cabinet at the party's National Council meeting on Monday. Bureau Report