Have resigned as Bihar CM taking moral responsibility for JD(U)`s debacle: Nitish Kumar

Zee Media Bureau/Manisha Singh Patna: Nitish Kumar told the media on Friday that he had resigned as Bihar Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for JD(U)`s drubbing in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “I respect the mandate of the people and as I was leading my party`s campaign in Bihar, I take responsibility for the results,” Nitish said, adding, “I have submitted my resignation to the Governor. But I have not asked for the dissolution the Assembly.” At the same time, JD(U) leader made the point that the elections were not fought on the issues of agenda but “more on lines of personal attack.” “But we went to the polls taking only our agenda to the people,” he said. “I can say that I have never seen this kind of communal polarisation before as seen in 2014 General Elections,” he maintained. However, Nitish accepted that since the BJP had got the mandate, they will form the government. “We hope they fulfil the wishes of the people. People will expect that good days have come. Our good wishes are with them,” he said. He told the reporters that his party would continue to work on the lines of its agenda and ideologies. Nitish reiterated that though he had got the mandate for five years to rule Bihar and still had the majority in House and though this was not Assembly elections, he had resigned on moral grounds. When asked whether his decision to break with the BJP was right the JD(U) leader said, “It was the right decision to break with BJP. It was taken on grounds of ideology. It was a well-thought out decision.,” adding, “When we were with the BJP, we did not compromise with our ideologies. But it seemed that we could not carry on with them anymore due to certain circumstances, we took the decision to break with them. It had nothing to do with betrayal. If there was any betrayal then it was on BJP`s part.” He also said that just because BJP had succeeded in the elections did not mean that “they were right and we were wrong.” Asked whether he considered BJP`s PM candidate Narendra Modi communal, Nitish had this to say - “If he has got the mandate then I should not comment on him. My best wishes are with him. He should work for the people.” The ruling JD(U) was decimated in the Lok Sabha polls, the results for which was declared yesterday. Nitish`s party managed to win only 2 seats whereas the BJP and its allies won 31 seats. One of the factors was said to be the so-called `Modi-wave` sweeping the state. The other reason is said to be the anger of mainly the upper caste with the JD(U) for ending a 17-year-old alliance with the BJP over the ascendency of Modi in his party. JD(U) and BJP as alliance partners had won the 2005 and 2010 Assembly elections in Bihar. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats.