Nitish Kumar is not 'hungry for power': JDU

Amidst the ongoing rift in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United) grand alliance, the former party stated that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is not 'hungry for power' and added that it will take him five minutes to quit the government.

Speaking to ANI, JDU leader Ajay Alok said, "Nitish Kumar is not someone who will cling on to power at all costs. He is not hungry for power. For him, principles come first. It will take only five minutes for him to quit the government. RJD should refrain from issuing such threats to them."

This statement comes after the opposition parties, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demanded Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav's resignation. It is speculated that Tejashwi might submit his resignation to quell the tensions escalating between ruling alliance partners.

With Tejashwi embroiled in a corruption case and the rising demand of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his resignation, a great pressure has mounted upon Nitish Kumar to take a definitive action.

Last week, the CBI registered a corruption case against Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav; former Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Managing Director P.K. Goyal; and the wife of Lalu's confidante Prem Chand Gupta, Sujata on allegations of awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of hotels in Ranchi and Puri in 2006.

The CBI later questioned Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.

The case was registered on the allegations of awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of Hotels at Ranchi and Puri to a private company dealing with hotels in the year 2006.

The investigative agency also conducted searches at 12 locations across Patna, Delhi, Gurugram and other places.

The RJD supremo, however, refuted the allegations against him and called it a political conspiracy hatched by the BJP.