A CM accused of murder preaching zero tolerance for corruption?: Lalu to Nitish

After Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar Chief Minister, his grand alliance partner and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said the former stepped down fearing his exposure in murder case slapped against him, while also questioning his intent behind the decision.

"I talked with Nitish ji last night and asked him to clear all the misunderstandings. We talked for 40 minutes and he did not mention about his resignation for once. He also advised me to clarify the corruption charges through media. Nitish Kumar knew that he is accused in a murder and an Arms Act case under Sections 302 and 307 of the IPC. He also declared this in elections affidavit. Nitish knew that if he would ask Tejashwi to resign then his crime will be exposed," Lalu told media.

"This is zero tolerance of my younger brother. This is why he stepped down. When a reporter asked Nitish if he would take the BJP's support to form a government, then he did not deny. I am sad that he resigned. I asked him to not resign," he added.

The RJD chief further called for appointment of a new chief minister.

"This is a grand alliance and the Chief Minister has resigned. Though we have a claim, but a meeting of the RJD, the JD(U) and the Congress MLAs should be called to elect a new chief minister," he said.

Lalu further accused Nitish to have been hand-in-glove with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) all this while.

"Nitish is hand-in-glove with the BJP, and the RSS. What a setting! Minutes after he resigned, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to congratulate him," he said.

Bihar saw a major turn of events on Wednesday evening when Nitish Kumar resigned from his post, instead of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, as was being speculated and expected.

Nitish handed over his resignation to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and confirmed it to the media even as he emerged after meeting him.

"The Governor has accepted my resignation. I did everything a chief of a party in alliance should do. I myself have given away the post. Now, you will have to wait and see what happens next," he said.

Following this, Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to "congratulate" Nitish.

"Huge congratulations to Nitish Kumar that he quit in the name of going against corruption. The 125 crore people of India support him," he posted.

While the Congress is disappointed at Nitish's decision, the BJP has welcomed the move.