News Politics National Don't favour mid-term elections in Bihar: BJP after Nitish’s resignation

Don't favour mid-term elections in Bihar: BJP after Nitish’s resignation

In a surprise move, Nitish Kumar quit this evening claiming he can't work in the ‘current circumstances’ following corruption allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

Sushil Kumar Modi Sushil Kumar Modi

Welcoming the resignation by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, state BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said his party was not in favour of mid-term assembly elections. He said a three-member committee had been formed to decide the future political strategy of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

"We welcome Nitish Kumar's resignation on corruption issue. He refused to give into Congress pressure and resigned. He has not compromised on the issue of corruption. People have voted for their MLAs so that they can complete their five-year term. We don't want mid-term elections in Bihar," Sushil Kumar Modi, a former Deputy Chief Minister, told the media here.

"A three-member committee has been formed. Nityanand Ray, Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and I have been appointed to talk to party MLAs. After taking into account the party's decision, the central leadership will be informed. Whatever decision the central leadership takes, we will work to implement it. The committee will work as a bridge between the state unit and the central leadership. It will work on devising the future political strategy," he added.

In New Delhi, Union Minister JP Nadda said that the parliamentary board welcomes the decision and it was not in favour of mid-terms polls in the state.

“The BJP welcomes the battle against corruption in Bihar; not in favour of midterm elections... A three-member panel from Bihar will report to central leadership for final call,” Nadda told reporters after the BJP’s parliamentary board meeting here.

In a surprise move, Nitish Kumar quit this evening claiming he can't work in the ‘current circumstances’ following corruption allegations against Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, ending the 20-month-old coalition of the JD-U, RJD and Congress that defeated the BJP in 2015.