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Patna : JD(U) National President Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on November 12, 2020, said it is for the BJP led NDA to take a call on whether to retain the LJP in the alliance. The JD(U) suffered a huge drop in number of seats in recently concluded Bihar Assembly polls due to the rebellion by LJP Chief Chirag Paswan, MP.
The JD(U), which had won 71 seats in 2015 Assembly poll when it was a constituent of Mahagathbandhan, could win only 43 seats as the LJP had fielded its nominees against the JD(U) candidates. Although the LJP could win only one seat, it ensured the defeat of several JD(U) candidates.
Talking to mediapersons for the first time after the NDA’s victory in Bihar Assembly polls, Nitish, who is set for yet another term in office, said the date for his swearing-in ceremony will be discussed at a meeting of all the four NDA constituents on on November 12, 2020. The tenure of the current assembly ends on November 29, 2020. He said if the swearing were to take place before November 29, the current assembly will have to be dissolved. “I shall also need to tender my resignation before that for fresh oath-taking,” Nitish said.
When asked whether he was apprehensive about being able to function as freely as earlier, Nitish replied in the negative. “I have always been uncompromising on the three Cs crime, corruption and communalism. Not a single riot has taken place since I took over,” he added. “Janata maalik hai (the people are our lord). I have no personal feelings in these matters,” he said about the poll reverses.
He declined to comment on allegations by opposition leaders, including RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav that the process of counting of votes was rigged to help the NDA. “What do I have to say in such matters,” he said.