JD(U), allies give letters of support to governor's office backing Nitish Kumar as CM

Patna: Clearing the decks for the formation of state government under the chief ministership of Nitish Kumar, a delegation of leaders from JD(U) and other allies on Sunday submitted letters of support to the governor's office claiming that Kumar enjoyed support of 130 MLAs.

"We went to the Raj Bhawan and submitted letters of support of 130 MLAs, including those from RJD, Congress, CPI and independent MLA Dulalchand Goswami, in favour of the newly elected JD (U) legislator party leader Nitish Kumar," state unit JD(U) president Bashistha Narayan Singh told reporters after emerging out of the Raj Bhawan.

Singh said that he has also submitted a letter to the Raj Bhawan officials apprising them about JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav's letter to the incumbent chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi that he has ceased to remain the ruling party's legislature party leader after Kumar's election to the post yesterday.

"Once the governor Keshri Nath Tripathi returns to the state capital tomorrow, the JD(U) legislature party leader Nitish Kumar will formally meet him to stake claim to form the government," he said.

Singh was accompanied by senior party leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, RJD leader A B Siddique, Congress legislator party leader Sadanand Singh, CPI leader Jitendra Narayan and independent MLA Goswami.

In the 243-member legislative assembly, the JD(U) has 111 MLAs, BJP 87, RJD 24, Congress 5 besides 5 Independents, while ten seats are vacant.