JD (U) hopes Governor invites Nitish to form next govt. in Bihar

Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi on Friday said Jitan Ram Manjhi resigned as the Bihar Chief Minister due to lack of numbers and expressed hope that Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi would now invite his senior colleague Nitish Kumar to form the next government in the state.

"We have been saying from day one that we have majority, Manjhi ji resigned due to lack of numbers," Tyagi told ANI here.

"We are hopeful that the Bihar Governor will invite Nitish ji to stake claim of forming the government now," he added.

Earlier in the day, 70-year-old Manjhi resigned from the post of Chief Minister. He submitted his resignation ahead of the crucial trust vote.

While tendering his resignation to the Bihar Governor, Manjhi also recommended dissolution of the assembly.

The Governor will now take a final call. He can either accept Manjhi's recommendation and dissolve the House or he can invite Nitish Kumar to form the next government.

With Manjhi's resignation, the trust vote will not be required.

Manjhi, who had for weeks caused a political commotion by refusing to vacate the office for his former boss, seemed certain to lose the trust vote despite the BJP's support.

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.