Bihar chief minister bows out

The appointment of the new chief minister angered the opposition

By South Asia analyst Yubaraj Ghimire

The Chief Minister of the north Indian state of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, has resigned - shortly before a vote of confidence in the state assembly.

Mr Kumar said that his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government did not have the necessary majority in the house.

Mr Nitish Kumar faced the state assembly only as a matter of ritual.

Governor V C Pande had appointed him chief minister on condition that Mr Kumar would seek a vote of confidence within ten days of his appointment.

No majority

Mr Kumar had no majority backing, nor was his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) the biggest group in the 324-member state assembly.

He conceded defeat at the outset.

Mr Kumar announced that he would not face a vote on his motion seeking confidence of the ouse, and instead resigned.

Mr Kumar¿s was the shortest tenure in the state in more than three decades.

Mr Kumar was the choice of the BJP-led coalition in Delhi to head India¿s most lawless state.

Although he had not contested the state election, he was asked by the NDA to resign from the federal cabinet and take over as Chief Minister of Bihar.

RJD claim

And the governor invited Mr Kumar to form the government, ignoring the claim of Mrs Rabri Devi, leader of the RJD in the state assembly.

The RJD has said it would press for Mr Pande¿s removal as the governor, although its immediate concern now is to form its own government.

Mr Pande is now expected to consider Mrs Rabri Devi¿s claim and appoint her the chief minister on condition that she proves majority within 10 days.

The RJD says it has the support of the Congress and Communist parties, as well as most of the nearly 30 independent legislators.