Patna: Congress in Bihar on Tuesday decided to continue with “unconditional” support to JD(U) government in Bihar and handed over its letter of support to Governor D Y 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 Congress joining the new ministry to be led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, he said there was no instruction 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.” 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 yesterday, a JD(U) delegation had handed over a letter of support of 117 JD(U) MLAs, 2 Independents and 1 CPI to the Governor while staking claim to form the government. Congress had bailed out JD(U) ministry in Bihar after Nitish Kumar had broken up with BJP in June last year.
Two BJP MLAs quit from Bihar Assembly
In a setback to the BJP in Bihar, two of its dissident MLAs resigned from the state Legislative Assembly today, an official said. The duo – Vijay Kumar Mishra and Rana Gangeshwar Singh — met Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary and submitted their resignations from the House, the Legislative Assembly’s acting secretary Phool Jha told PTI.
Notification with regard to the acceptance of the resignation letters of the two BJP leaders were being issued, Jha added. BJP’s strength has come down to 88 in the House of 237 members. (PTI)
