BJP's 'game-plan has been exposed': Nitish Kumar

Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party's game-plan has been exposed following the resignation of Jitan Ram Manjhi as the Bihar Chief Minister. Nitish, however, said that he would comment on the latest political development only after the whole situation becomes clear.

"The BJP's game-plan has been exposed now. The attempts of horse trading were made……. We will react after the whole situation becomes clear," Kumar said. "We have said it from the very beginning that majority should be decided before the Budget Session. Today, our opinion has been vindicated. This should have happened before so that the Budget Session would have worked properly. Now, this has happened after 14 days and that too on an immediate basis," he added.

Earlier in the day, Manjhi resigned from the post of Chief Minister. He submitted his resignation ahead of the crucial trust vote. Manjhi had earlier met Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi at the Governor's House here.

Manjhi was locked in a showdown with Nitish Kumar, who had handpicked him to take his place last year. With Manjhi's resignation, the trust vote will not be required. The BJP had asked its 87 MLAs to vote in favour of Manjhi today while the JD (U), RJD, Congress and CPI had issued a whip to its legislators to vote against him.