Bihar political turmoil: Nitish Kumar stakes claim to form government with support of BJP; RJD also in fray

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday tendered his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi, bringing an end to the 20-month-old grand alliance in Bihar. He cited irreconcilable differences with ally RJD on the issue of corruption charges against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

"In the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the grand alliance government," Kumar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after submitting his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi.

He did not rule out taking BJP's support for forming a new government. "I tried to work it out....I did not ask for anybody's resignation...I just asked Tejashwi to explain the charges of corruption," he said.

Indicating an alliance with old partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took it to Twitter and congratulated Nitish Kumar for 'joining the movement against corruption'. PM Modi said that it is need of the hour to overcome political differences and fight corruption for the bright future of Bihar.

Here are the updates:

# RJD will stake claim to form government with support of JDU candidates who won against BJP, says Tejashwi

# Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi and other BJP, JDU leaders leave for Raj Bhavan to meet Governor

# Nitish Kumar to take oath as CM of Bihar at 5 pm tomorrow

# Bihar Governor KN Tripathi admitted to Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, due to an ENT problem

#Sushil Modi, Nityanand Rai and other BJP MLAs reach Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna for a meeting of JDU-BJP MLAs

# Whole heartedly thank PM Modi for response through his tweet about our decision, tweets Nitish Kumar

# Nityanand Rai Ji and I called Nitish Ji. BJP decides to support him, will support the government formed under him. Will inform Governor also: Sushil Modi

# BJP will unconditionally support Nitish Kumar, says Sushil Modi 

# CP Joshi was informed at the Governor's house, he asked Kumar to wait. Joshi said he'll get back after a word with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi: Sources

# JDU leader KC Tyagi attacks Lalu Yadav, says RJD became untouchable, will not consider Lalu's offer to choose another leader of the legislative assembly

# Lalu asks Nitish to explain his "setting" with RSS and BJP. 

# Lalu terms Nitish's resignation a BJP-JDU setting. Says PM Modi congratulated him shows the "setting" behind his resignation. 

# Everyone is frightened of my sons, says Lalu

# RJD, Congress and BJP should find new leader, says Lalu

# Alliance should look beyond Nitish, Tejashwi, says Lalu 

# Mahagathbandhan was given a 5 year mandate by people of Bihar. We shall continue to strive the mandate given is fully respected-R Surjewala

# BJP welcomes battle against corruption in Bihar. Not in favor of mid-term elections: JP Nadda after BJP Parliamentary Board meet

# We are deeply disappointed by the news of Nitish Kumar's resignation. Congress respect Nitish Kumar as a leader: Randeep Surjewala, Congress

# Nitish Kumar knew that he is accused of section 302, one of India's CM is main accused in murder & arms case : Lalu Prasad Yadav

# Nitish had not asked for any resignation, says Lalu

# I had also talked with Nitish yesterday, says Lalu 

# Nitish has been named in Arms Act, says Lalu 

# Allegations of murder are against Nitish, says Lalu

# Nitish earlier said that he will diminish but will not break alliance with RJD, says Lalu

# All the allegations against Tejashwi are baseless, says Lalu

# Nitish has not performed his responsibility well, says Lalu   

# We are happy that Bihar CM didn't compromise on issue of corruption and did not kneel down before RJD: Sushil Modi, BJP

# 3 member committee has been constituted for making the future plan of action: Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP

# We are not in favour of mid-term elections in Bihar: Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP

# BJP chief Amit Shah talks to Sushil Modi

# We welcome the resignation of Nitish Kumar, says Sushil Modi 

# Nitish hasn't compromised on corruption, says Sushil Modi

# If Nitish asks for support, then we will think over it, says Ravi Shankar Prasad 

# Nitish-Lalu alliance was a mismatch. This had to happen: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Nitish Kumar's resignation

# Nitish will have to find a way ahead, says BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad 

# When I supported Demonetisation a lot of allegations were leveled against me: Nitish Kumar

# I am not blaming anyone, those who want to blame me are free to do so: Nitish Kumar

# Gandhiji always said needs can be met on the earth, but greed can never be fulfilled: Nitish Kumar

# Before resigning, I had informed Laluji and Congress Bihar incharge CP Joshi: Nitish Kumar

# 125 crore people welcome and support this honesty, tweets PM Modi

# It is need of the hour to overcome political differences and fight corruption for the bright future of Bihar, says PM Modi 

# PM Narendra Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar for joining the movement against corruption

# If Tejashwi would have resigned then he would have touched new heights, says Nitish Kumar 

# I resigned on the voice of my inner conscience, says Nitish Kumar 

# I have detached myself from the proceedings, says Nitish Kumar

# We will think over all the options which are important for people of Bihar, says Nitish

# Governor accepted my resignation, says Nitish Kumar

# Democracy works on the basis of public responsibility 

# I am committed towards Bihar, says Nitish Kumar

# I don't work under pressure of anyone, says Nitish Kumar

# I supported Ram Nath Kovind openly, says Nitish Kumar 

# I also talked to Rahul Gandhi, says Nitish Kumar

# It was difficult to continue in present circumstances, says Nitish Kumar

# We never demanded resignation from anyone, says Nitish Kumar

# Nitish Kumar resigns as Chief Minister of Bihar

# BJP calls Parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi, they can mull support to JD(U)

देश के, विशेष रूप से बिहार के उज्जवल भविष्य के लिए राजनीतिक मतभेदों से ऊपर उठकर भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ एक होकर लड़ना,आज देश और समय की माँग है

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017

भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई में जुड़ने के लिए नीतीश कुमार जी को बहुत-बहुत बधाई।
सवा सौ करोड़ नागरिक ईमानदारी का स्वागत और समर्थन कर रहे हैं

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017

Earlier in the day, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has not asked for Tejashwi’s resignation. Lalu said that Grand Alliance is intact and Nitish Kumar will remain leader of the same.

"Nitish Kumar is leader of grand alliance. We will not tolerate any disrespect towards him," Lalu Yadav said.

He further said,"We have formed the grand alliance, made Nitish CM. Why will we break the alliance?"

RJD had called a meeting of its MLAs as the Assembly is going to kick off from July 28.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav attacked BJP-RSS for making all attempts to break grand alliance in the state. He said that people can see through the conspiracy of BJP-RSS.

"I was never asked to resign. Its RSS-BJP which wants to break the grand alliance, people can see through their conspiracy," said Tejashwi.

Tejashwi said that Sushil Modi is not even a Bihari and he is an outsider, so these people don't care about Bihar's development or its people.

Tejashwi added that Amit Shah had said he wants to see BJP in power in every state, so they are trying all means to break us.