Bihar Political Crisis: Nitish Kumar resigns as Chief Minister of Bihar, breaks alliance with BJP; how numbers stack up

Bihar crisis: It's official now Nitish Kumar has severed ties with the BJP-led NDA and has resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, as per News agency ANI.   

Earlier, the hint came from none other than Upendra Kushwaha, JD (U) National Parliamentary Board President of JD(U), who congratulated Nitish Kumar for taking up the leadership of the 'new alliance.'     

"Congratulations Nitish Kumar for the leadership of a new alliance in a new form...Nitish Ji march ahead, we are behind you," read a tweet (Hindi) from Upendra Kushwaha.    

The tweet from the JD (U) National Parliamentary Board President comes after the party held meeting in Patna on Tuesday.   

A clear picture will only emerge after Nitish Kumar and Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan meeting, which is scheduled around 4pm. The Bihar Chief minister is expected to tender resignation and side with the Mahagathbandhan alliance with the RJD and the Congress.  

नये स्वरूप में नये गठबंधन के नेतृत्व की जवाबदेही के लिए श्री नीतीश कुमार जी को बधाई। नीतीश जी आगे बढ़िए। देश आपका इंतजार कर कर रहा है।

— Upendra Kushwaha (@UpendraKushJDU) August 9, 2022

Earlier, Many JD(U) MLAs, MLCs in a meeting of the party told Nitish Kumar that the BJP is trying to weaken JD(U) since 2020, sources told ANI. Without naming Chirag Paswan, they also said he was one such example. "If they are not alert now, it will affect the party in a negative way.   

Meanwhile, in a 'Mahagathbandhan' meeting today, it is learnt that RJD MLAs, MLCs and Rajya Sabha MP authorised party leader Tejashwi Yadav to take a decision in this regard.   

"Congress and Left parties MLAs have already said that they are with Tejashwi Yadav," Ani said citing sources.    

RJD sources also told the news agency that the Tejashwi Yadav-led party would extend support to Nitish Kumar. There will be no differences on allotment of portfolios, they said.    

"Tejashwi Yadav said that they have a strength of 160. If BJP attempts to create instability or tries to push for President's Rule, we will give them a "befitting reply": RJD Sources   

What triggered Bihar Political Crisis?

The crisis in Bihar Politics was triggered by the resignation of RCP Singh, the former president of Janata Dal (United) and only JD(U) leader in the Modi cabinet. Calling JD(U) a sinking ship, Singh quit the party after he was asked to explain on corruption allegations.  

Meanwhile, the BJP had said that they want Nitish Kumar to continue as the leader of the alliance. "BJP wants Nitish Kumar to continue as the CM," says Union Minister Kaushal Kishor.   

What number game suggests 

With a change expected in Bihar, the new government likely to be formed with the help of Mahagathbandhan will suit Nitish Kumar more, both in terms of numbers as well as upholding his socialist ideology, which gels with the RJD, Congress and the Left parties, said IANS.. 

As far as the numbers are concerned, the JD(U) has 45 MLAs and it also has the support of an independent candidate Sumit Singh. LJP MLA Raj Kumar Singh also merged with the JD(U). Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has already decided to stay with Nitish Kumar. The HAM has 4 MLAs. And, the final count of MLAs with Nitish Kumar is 51. 

On the Mahagathbandhan front, the RJD had 80 MLAs but as MLA Anant Singh lost his legislation after the MLA-MLC court of Patna convicted him for 10 years jail term in AK 47, hand grenade and bullet proof jacket case, RJD was reduced to 79. Still, it is the single largest party in Bihar Assembly.  

Besides the RJD, Congress has 19 MLAs, CPI (ML) has 12 MLAs, CPI has 2 and CPI(M) also has 2 seats. Hence, Nitish Kumar will have the support of 165 MLAs. 

The Bihar Assembly has 243 seats and requires 122 for any alliance or party to prove the majority and form the government. The `165` number will make Nitish Kumar more comfortable to run the government. He would be aiming to give participation to every party in his cabinet to run the government smoothly