BJP against mid-term polls; Congress disappointed over Nitish resignation

Emerging from the meeting of BJP Parliamentary Board, party leader JP Nadda said the board is against mid-term polls in the state.

It has formed a three-member committee to talk to party MLAs in the state and report to the central leadership to allow it take a final call.

The Congress, on the other hand, said it was disappointed at the development.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the 'grand alliance' was given a mandate of five years by the people of Bihar and the party will strive for respecting that.

"We are deeply disappointed by the news of resignation of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar," he said.

Union Law Minister and party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the breakup was "bound to happen" as Nitish was cautious about his image and for Lalu Prasad corruption was more important.

JD (U) leader KC Tyagi defended Nitish's move saying he was not allowed to work independently and in favour of Bihar.

"He is a man of different metal, he had already taken resignations of his own ministers on the issue of corruption. The party and Kumar cannot compromise on this issue. There were expectations from Rahulji as he had torn the ordinance (protecting convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification) ..., but somehow Gandhi forgot that," he said.

Senior CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjaan demanded that elections be held afresh in the state after Nitish staged the "high-voltage" drama by tendering resignation.

"Now, there should be no underhand dealing after what the BJP did in Manipur and Goa. The BJP has broken the public mandate in Bihar in its own style. We demand elections be held afresh in the state," Anjaan said.

The AAP, which coordinates with the JD(U) over several issues, appeared to be cautious on giving any reaction.

"We are observing the situation," Saurabh Bharadwaj, party's chief spokesperson of the Delhi unit said. Kumar and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are known to share a good equation.