Congress extends support to new JD(U) government in Bihar

The Congress in Bihar decided on Tuesday to continue with "unconditional" support to the JD(U) government in Bihar and handed over its letter of support to Governor DY Patil.

As directed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), a Congress delegation led by state president Ashok Choudhary met the Governor and submitted the letter. "We have handed over letter of support to the JD(U) government," Choudhary told PTI.

With the support of the four-member Congress, the numbers for the new JD(U) government has increased to 124 in the Assembly, whose effective strength at present is 239. 

Asked about the chances of the Congress joining the new ministry to be led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, Choudhary said there were no instructions from the Congress leadership.

State Congress vice president and media in-charge Prem Chand Mishra said Congress support to a secular government in Bihar was "unconditional".

Congress legislature party leader Sadanand Singh said, "We are continuing our support to JD(U) after it severed ties with BJP."

The Congress has four members in the Assembly at present and three members including PCC chief Ashok Choudhary in the Legislature Council.

With Nitish Kumar turning down the plea to withdraw his resignation as chief minister and choosing Manjhi as his successor on Monday, a JD(U) delegation had handed over a letter of support of 117 JD(U) MLAs, two Independents and one CPI to the governor while staking claim to form the government. The Congress had bailed out JD(U) ministry in Bihar after Nitish Kumar had broken up with the BJP in June last year.