New Delhi: Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar chief minister on Thursday, bringing back the former estranged allies Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) to power after four years. BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi was sworn-in as Bihar’s deputy chief minister.

Nitish Kumar’s unexpected resignation on Wednesday evening plunged Bihar politics into a crisis. But just hours later, he joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reclaim the government in a stunning political manoeuvre that relegated his ‘Mahagathbandhan’, or Grand Alliance, partner Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to the opposition.

Nitish Kumar has the support of 129 MLAs—71 of JD(U) and the rest of BJP and its NDA allies—which is higher than the 122 seats required to form the government.

Here are the live updates and developments in Bihar politics after the Nitish Kumar resignation and his swearing-in today:

■ Nitish Kumar has defended his decision to ally with the BJP, insisting it was made in the interest of the state. He refused to join issue with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who accused him of having returned to “communal forces" for “selfish" political motives, saying he would respond those attacking him at the “right time".

“I took the decision to form the new government in the interest of Bihar... I am committed to the development of Bihar," Kumar told reporters after taking oath.

■ Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma attacks Nitish Kumar for joining hands with the BJP, saying he was always a political opportunist. “Nitish has always been a political opportunist. This alliance sans principles and is an opportunistic coalition," Sharma told reporters in New Delhi.

He also asked whether Kumar was not aware of the charges against Yadav when the grand alliance was formed between JDU, RJD and Congress. “The excuse they are making will not work. Nitish has completely been exposed and nobody will be able to trust him anymore," the Congress leader said. (PTI)

■ Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Lalu Prasad and his family members in a railway hotels allotment corruption case dating back to the UPA tenure. (PTI)

■ JDU leader Sharad Yadav meets rebel party MLAs, reports News18.

■ Nitish Kumar says he will give reply to all queries of Rahul Gandhi and others at the “right time". (PTI)

■ The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday also stepped in to probe money laundering by the former railways minister and his family in a railway hotel allotment case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, reports NDTV.

■ Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar today expressed the hope that under the new JDU-BJP government in Bihar, the state will be back on the path of development.

Parrikar congratulated JDU leader Nitish Kumar for taking over as the chief minister of Bihar once again with the BJP’s support.

“Congratulations to Nitishkumarji and SushilModiji on taking oath as CM and deputy CM," Parrikar tweeted.

■ Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Thursday lashed out at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for abandoning the grand alliance and forming a government with the BJP, terming it a “betrayal of the people of Bihar."

Mayawati said the people of Bihar had voted against the “Modi wave" and handed a full-majority to the “secular" parties. That mandate should have been honoured for its full term of five years, she said here in an official statement. (The Hindu)

■ Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge today said it was “unfortunate" that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had joined hands with the “dictatorial" BJP after seeking votes in the name of “secularism" in the state.

“The grand alliance was formed to bring secular forces together, to fight the dictatorial attitude of the BJP, its attitude of killing democracy," Kharge told reporters outside Parliament. But those who had sought votes in the name of secularism, had embraced the BJP, he said. “This is unfortunate," Kharge added.

ALSO READ: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar stumps his friends and foes alike

“You formed the government in Bihar fully aware of how the grand alliance partners are. You should not have broken the alliance in such a case," he added.

■ Lalu Yadav tweets picture of Nitish Kumar’s affidavit filed with his nomination papers.

नीतीश के खिलाफ पब्लिक को गोली मारने का मामला है। स्वयं उसने affidavite में माना है। वह कंबल ओढ़ कर घी पी रहे है। पढ़िए pic.twitter.com/MUmOkKgV3q — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) July 27, 2017

■ Former chief Sharad Yadav has met Congress leaders and called for a meet of JD(U) legislators at 5pm this evening. (News18)

■ This is indeed a black day for democracy: Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Nitish Kumar switching sides. (PTI)

■ Nitish Kumar government to seek trust vote tomorrow: Brajesh Mehrotra, Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination department of Bihar government. (PTI)

■ Nitish Kumar is greedy for power, he has betrayed the people of Bihar and India. Nitish Kumar joined hands with BJP to ensure raids by CBI, ED on RJD leaders and to malign them, says Lalu Prasad Yadav. (PTI)

■ Will support Modi government in both houses of Parliament: JDU spokesperson K. C. Tyagi. (PTI)

■ Nitish Kumar says he will give reply to all queries of Rahul Gandhi and others at the “right time". (PTI)

■ Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for joining hands with the BJP, alleging that he had returned to the “communal forces" for his selfish political motives.

Gandhi, whose party was part of the Grand Alliance in Bihar that was deserted by Kumar’s JDU last evening, said that he was aware that it was being planned for the last three-four months.

“He (Nitish) had joined hands with us in the anti-communal fight, but Nitish Kumar, for his personal politics, joined hands with those against whom he had fought," said a seething Gandhi. This is the problem in India’s politics, he added.

“In politics you come to know of what is going on in the minds of people. Clearly, I knew Nitish ji is planning. We knew this was going on for the last three-four months. People do anything for their selfish motives. There is no principle, no credibility. They can do anything for power," he told reporters when asked about the developments in Bihar. (PTI)

■ Frequent change of stand by Nitish Kumar doesn’t show him in good light: HP CM Virbhadra Singh. (PTI)

■ My performance perturbed our ally and BJP, vendetta against me exposes their viciousness: Tejashwi Yadav. (PTI)

■ “Whatever decision we have taken will be in the interest of Bihar and of its people. It will ensure development and justice. It will also ensure progress. This is a collective decision. I ensure that our commitment is towards the people of Bihar," Nitish Kumar told reporters. (PTI)

■ Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar chief minister, while Sushil Kumar Modi is sworn in as Bihar’s deputy CM.

Congratulations to @NitishKumar ji & @SushilModi ji. Looking forward to working together for Bihar’s progress & prosperity. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 27, 2017

■ BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi, who is expected to be sworn in as the deputy CM of Bihar, also reaches Raj Bhawan.

■ BJP and JDU leaders reach Raj Bhawan as the swearing-in ceremony for Bihar’s chief minister is expected shortly.

■ Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday morning meets Bihar governor Keshri Nath Tripathi in Patna to register protest over Nitish Kumar being invited to form his government ahead of RJD, which is the single-largest party in the Bihar assembly, PTI reported.

Kumar has been asked by the governor to prove his majority in the Assembly within two days of taking oath at 10am. He said the governor told him that he has already invited Kumar for taking oath and it is not possible to take back the invitation letter.

“RJD being the single largest party should have been invited to form the government. We are taking legal advice and will move court against the governor’s decision," Tejashwi told reporters after the meeting with Tripathi. He also threatened of protests across the state against Kumar “who will find it difficult to move around".

Tejashwi claimed he had support of most JD(U) MLAs. “I’m confident that most JD(U) MLAs who are committed to social justice will vote against the government in the floor- test," he said.

■ Nitish Kumar to take oath as Bihar chief minister at 10am today. BJP’s Sushil Kumar Modi will be sworn in as deputy chief minister. Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi gives Nitish Kumar two days to prove majority in the Bihar assembly. (PTI)

■ Tejashwi Yadav says RJD has requested Bihar governor to stall the swearing-in ceremony and give them a chance to prove majority on the floor. “Why are all JDU MLAs locked up inside his residence? If you are so confident go for elections?" questions Yadav. (ANI)

■ After meeting the Bihar governor, Tejashwi Yadav says RJD, Congress, and all who oppose BJP-RSS and Nitish Kumar, will protest, hold dharnas, burn effigies. “In spite of their (JDU) vote in presidential elections (in favour of Ram Nath Kovind), we didn’t say anything as we wanted grand alliance to continue," he says.

March to Governor house pic.twitter.com/Rp4KHugj9X — Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 26, 2017

“On what ground is he (Nitish Kumar) questioning us (RJD)? He himself is tainted, accused under section 302," says Yadav. “Each development seemed planned it was all pre-decided. Why was everything so rushed?" (ANI)

■ Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi invites Tejashwi Yadav and 5 RJD MLAs for discussion. (ANI)

■ “I’ve been defamed. People of Bihar are watching. Being the largest party we should have been invited (to form the government in Bihar)," says Tejashwi Yadav. (ANI)

■ Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav tweets that he is going to Raj Bhawan right now.

■ Nitish Kumar has reached Raj Bhawan to stake claim to form government with BJP in Bihar.

■ RJD will stake claim to form Bihar government, says Tejashwi Yadav, after Nitish Kumar’s JDU aligned with the BJP for forming the next government. Nitish Kumar is expected to be sworn in as Bihar chief minister at 5pm on Thursday.

■ The BJP has handed over to Bihar governor Keshri Nath Tripathi the letter extending support to Nitish Kumar for forming the next government.

State BJP chief Nityanand Rai and senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi drove to Raj Bhavan late evening on Wednesday and handed over the letter. Modi later told reporters that BJP legislators were meeting at 1, Anne Marg residence of Kumar where lawmakers of the JD (U) were present to discuss their next move.

■ Sushil Kumar Modi, Nityanand Rai and other BJP MLAs reach Nitish Kumar’s residence in Patna for a meeting of JDU-BJP MLAs.

■ Legislators of NDA constituents and JD(U) will meet and elect Nitish Kumar as their leader, the BJP will be part of the new Bihar government, says Sushil Kumar Modi.

■ BJP has decided to support Nitish Kumar as chief minister, says Sushil Kumar Modi.

■ The Congress has expressed disappointment Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Bihar chief minister and said it will continue to strive to resolve the differences in the “grand alliance".

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the “grand alliance" was given a mandate for five years and the Congress will strive to respect that.

“We are deeply disappointed by the news of resignation of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. We, in the Congress, particularly Congress president and party vice president have great respect and affection for Nitish Kumar," he said. (PTI)

■ Nadda says BJP parliamentary board not in favour of mid-term poll in Bihar.

■ BJP has formed a three-member panel to talk to its MLAs in Bihar and report to leadership for a final call, says J.P. Nadda after BJP parliamentary board meeting.

■ RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav addressing a press conference. Here are the main highlights of his briefing:

— Nitish Kumar did not ask for Tejaswi’s resignation. (Hindustan Times)

— We did not speak to the press over corruption allegations against Tejaswi following lawyers’ advice. I told Nitish that cases against him are false. (Hindustan Times)

— Nitish Kumar knew that he is accused of section 302; one of India’s CM is main accused in murder and arms case. (Hindustan Times)

— Nitish wanted RSS free India. (NDTV)

— Lalu Prasad blames BJP for the “present crisis" in Bihar. “The BJP is eagerly eyeing the return of Nitish Kumar with them...I am watching everything." “We formed the Grand Alliance with a lot of difficulties and made Nitish Kumar the chief minister for five years... But if somebody does not wish to keep bearing the load of it then he should know about it," Prasad said, apparently shifting the onus of keeping the coalition intact on Kumar.

■

■ Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar saying “1.25 billion people welcome and support Nitish Kumarji’s crusade against corruption." He again tweeted, “For the country’s, particulary Bihar’s better future, we all need to unite and rise above politics to fight against corruption."

Also read | Worth watching: Nitish Kumar’s future moves

देश के, विशेष रूप से बिहार के उज्जवल भविष्य के लिए राजनीतिक मतभेदों से ऊपर उठकर भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ एक होकर लड़ना,आज देश और समय की माँग है — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017

भ्रष्टाचार के ख़िलाफ़ लड़ाई में जुड़ने के लिए नीतीश कुमार जी को बहुत-बहुत बधाई।

सवा सौ करोड़ नागरिक ईमानदारी का स्वागत और समर्थन कर रहे हैं — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2017

■ Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar resigned today, citing irreconcilable differences with ally RJD on the issue of corruption charges against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

“In the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the grand alliance government," Kumar told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after submitting his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi.

He did not rule out taking BJP’s support for forming a new government.

“I tried to work it out....I did not ask for anybody’s resignation...I just asked Tejashwi to explain the charges of corruption," he said.

The sudden development throws the politics of Bihar into chaos with no party having a majority in the 243-member Assembly.

Kumar’s JD(U) has 71 seats, while RJD headed by Tejashwi Yadav’s father Lalu Prasad, has 80.

The BJP has 53. Asked if he will now form a government with BJP’s support, he said,"Whatever had to happen has happened. Now see what happens next." Kumar, who led the grand alliance that also included the Congress to a stunning victory, was sworn in on November 20 2015. (PTI)

■ Nitish Kumar says he has resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar. (PTI)

It is not clear if Nitish has asked for the dissolution of the Assembly or he will explore other options to form the government, News18 reports. At present, BJP has 53 seats, while JDU has 71 seats.

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