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Nitish Kumar resigns as CM

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation to Governor Vinod Pande at 6 pm today. He had earlier announced his resignation at 4.31 pm on the floor of the House after two-and-a-half hours of debating on the confidence motion.

Talking to the journalists immediately after his speech, the outgoing chief minister said the Congress had been exposed here. He feared the government would not be stable since the Communist party of India and the Communist Party of India-Marxist would also oppose Rabri Devi.

He said that the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the left parties have been unnecessarily raising the issue of communalism when the National Democratic Alliance had already dropped Article 370 and the Ayodhya issues. Instead of discussing serious developmental issues, these parties continue to talk of secularism and social justice, he said.

RJD leader Laloo Yadav while participating in the debate denied that the NDA got more percentage of votes.

"Why are you taking into account the votes polled by your rebels when you have already expelled them before the polls,' he asked. Laloo invited 'secular and anti-feudal' forces to his side. He said Nitish had fallen into a bad company.

After Nitish Kumar resigned, the RJD supreme told journalists that his stand had been vindicated. He said Nitish Kumar's resignation had proved that the governor was wrong in inviting him to form the government. He said Rabri Devi would certainly stake a claim to form the government.

Meanwhile, RJD national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari called for the immediate recall of Governor Vinod Pande.

After Nitish Kumar's resignation was announced, thousands of RJD supporters came to the streets. They thronged Rabri Devi's residence and burst crackers.

Laloo, meanwhile, retired to discuss his future strategy with senior RJD and Congress leaders.

EARLIER REPORT
Fate of Nitish govt to be decided today

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