Nitish Kumar Resigns as Bihar Chief Minister Amidst Alliance Turmoil

In a surprising turn of events, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key player in the grand alliance (GA) government, resigned from his post, citing dissatisfaction with the progress of talks within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Kumar had spearheaded the formation of INDIA to counter the BJP, but expressed disappointment over the alliance’s lack of cooperation.

Context

Less than 18 months after forming the GA government with the support of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kumar, 72, broke away, blaming the slow developments within the alliance. This marks Kumar’s fourth significant political move in the past decade and the second during his current term.

Key Points

• Kumar handed his resignation to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, urging the dissolution of the state government.
• The grand alliance, formed after Kumar’s exit from the NDA in August 2022, witnessed a sudden breakdown.
• In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the RJD holds 79 seats, BJP 78, JD(U) 45, Congress 19, and others contributing to the political landscape.
• The NDA, with a strength of 127 MLAs, surpasses the grand alliance’s 116, securing a majority with one independent legislator.