Live: Nitish must resign as CM of Bihar, demands BJP

3. 25 pm: Nitish must resign as Chief Minister, demands BJP

The BJP hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanding that he step down as chief minister because the mandate was given to the NDA and not to the JD(U) alone.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Modi said that the way his party ministers were dismissed was insulting and unexpected from Nitish Kumar.

“The way BJP MLAs were dismissed yesterday was very insulting, this was not expected from Nitish Kumar… Instead of asking for our resignation, they dismissed us and announced it through the media, this is very painful,” Modi said.

1. 15 pm: BJP hits back at Nitish, says he gave Modi green signal after 2002 riots

The BJP hit back at Nitish Kumar saying the JD(U) betrayed the BJP and also trageted the Bihar CM for his double standards on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

“Nitish Kumar had gone to Gujarat and said Modi was fit to lead nation… they have stabbed us in the back,” Bihar BJP leader Giriraj Singh said.

“The people of nation and state are watching everything and will decide what is the truth.”

11. 36 am: Too premature to speak of alliance with Congress, says Nitish

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said it was too early to speak of any alliance with the ruling Congress party and it’s only priority was to fulfill the mandate given by the people of Bihar - that of giving the state special status.

Interestingly, on Saturday, the Congress as well as its ally the NCP said they welcome any party that is secular in its outlook and the JD(U), they said was one such party.

11. 33 am: “We were forced to leave NDA only because of BJP”

“When many senior BJP leaders had called me, we had only said that our basic concerns should be addressed. They (BJP leaders) could have come (for the cabinet meet) to discuss the roadmap if there was to be a split,” Nitish Kumar said.

11. 30 am: No compromise on our principles, says Nitish Kumar

The Bihar CM said the party’s decision is based on the fact that  developments in the BJP were in violation of ideals on which the alliance was formed.

“They are going ahead with an agenda not in sync with us.”

11. 25 am: If there was any betrayal, it was from their side, says Nitish

“We tried to put our views forward for a year, but the BJP didn’t pay heed. This decision was not taken in a hurry but after a lot of deliberations.. If there is talk of betrayal, it is the BJP. Look at how they have treated their elders in the party. The Atal-Advani era in the BJP is over.. " Nitish said.

11. 20 am: It’s a new era in BJP, we can’t work with them Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said his party found it difficult to work with the BJP as it is now under a different leadership of sorts. He however said there were no issues with the leadership of the BJP. “We have worked together to do some good work and that should be remembered,” he said.

He further said that the problems in the alliance started occuring after ’external forces’ started influencing the Bihar BJP unit.'

11. 15 am: Confident of majority, says Nitish

A day after pulling out of the NDA, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said his party - JD(U) - was confident of proving its majority in the Bihar Assembly.

Updates for 16 June end

5.20 pm: Nitish Kumar must resign, says BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to resign after he announced the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) was snapping ties with the BJP. “Nitish Kumar should resign as the chief minister on moral grounds,” Modi told the media.

“He was elected as head of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in Bihar when he was made the chief minister. Now that he is no more an NDA leader, he has no moral right to continue.

“He should resign, get elected as JD-U leader for the chief minister’s post, then go to the governor,” he said.

3.45pm: Sushma Swaraj calls split ‘sad’, BJP in no mood to go back on Modi

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj tweeted saying that the BJP-JD(U) split was ‘sad’.

However, BJP spokesperson Muqhtar Abbas Naqvi spelled out the BJP’s stand with more defiance. Oscillating between criticism and poetry, Naqvi said that he prays to god that no enemy does what a friend has done to BJP. “The BJP’s internal matters are no one’s business. What happens inside the party is decided upon by the party leaders. Allies have a right to comment only on the coalition,” he said, adding, “There is no going back on the decision to elevate Narendra Modi. We can’t help it if allies aren’t happy with it.”

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut commented that it was not an alliance that broke, several hearts also broke with it.

3.32pm: Nitish sacks 11 BJP ministers from Bihar Cabinet

Making the split with BJP official, Nitish Kumar announced that the 11 BJP ministers in his cabinet have been sacked. “Don’t see how we can be in the Cabinet and not work with the ruling party,” the Bihar CM said. “Will seek fresh vote of confidence on 19 June,” he added.

Nitish chose to heap blame on the BJP for their move. “We tried our best to work the alliance. Sharad Yadav ji had repeatedly tried to reason with them. However, they were adamant. Their decisions don’t agree with the founding principles of our party and we cannot work together,” said Nitish.

The Bihar CM added that while the BJP might have had their own mandate, the Bihar government too had their own mandate. “The BJP coerced us to walk out. It is not our fault. When the Bihar government was running smoothly and we were advertising our achievements, the BJP saw it as statement against them.Today, even when things were not working with us, we called all the BJP ministers for a meeting. They refused to turn up. How can we carry on like this,” said Nitish.

Interestingly enough, both Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar refrained from bringing up Narendra Modi  even once. In fact, Modi’s name wasn’t even mentioned during the press conference.

3. 10 pm: Sharad Yadav quits as NDA convenor, says BJP-JD(U) friendship over

After making the formal announcement to Bihar  governor about end of BJP-JD(U) alliance, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav address a press conference.

Announcing his resignation as the NDA convenor, Sharad Yadav said that the BJP-JD(U) alliance is over because there is no friendship and trust left.

“Any alliance runs by friendship and trust - we tried our best to run the alliance. But, this won’t be good for either of the party,” he said.

Sharad Yadav said that the BJP-JD(U) alliance with the NDA was for 17 years and they have seen many ups and downs

“We were in the NDA  for 17 years and we had a national agenda that was formed with Atalji and Advaniji. We have tried to stick to the framework of the NDA but for the past 6-7  month situation has change,” he said.

Yadav said that when Goa conclave happened, JD(U) said that people must stick to the agenda of the NDA. However, he said that speeches and agenda after BJP’s Goa meet were disturbing.

“There have been comments like “Ram Mandir is on our agenda”. This worries many people, creates fear. We cautioned against this. But now it is a matter of principle and to trust them has become difficult,” he said.

2.55 pm: Nitish Kumar to sack all BJP ministers?

Times Now reports Nitish Kumar will sack all the BJP ministers. In a press meet that Nitish Kumar will address in some time, he is likely to announce this.

The Bihar chief minister will also seek a vote of confidence at a special session of Bihar Assembly on June 19.

1. 58 pm: Nitish Kumar meets governor, tells him BJP-JD(U) ties over

Bihar chief minister Nitsh Kumar met the Bihar governor and has informed him that the JDU is ending BJP alliance.

1. 30 pm: Nitish Kumar to meet Bihar governor at 2 pm

According to CNN-IBN reports, Nitish Kumar may request Governor for a vote of confidence to prove majority and call a special session of Assembly on June 21. The BJP chief minister will meet the Bihar Governor Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil at 2 pm.

12. 50 pm:  JD(U) leaders meet at Nitish Kumar’s residence

Top JD(U) leaders have met at Nitish Kumar’s residence to decide the fate of their alliance with the BJP in Bihar. Reports say a strongly-worded resolution is being drafted, it will be read out at 3 pm.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar has sought an appointment with to meet Bihar Governor Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil at 2 pm.

11. 50 am: Bihar cabinet meet begins, BJP not present

The Bihar cabinet meet has begun, but no BJP ministers are present at the meet.

There are 11 BJP ministers in the 29-member Bihar council of ministers.

BJP ministers, state party president Mangal Pandey and other senior members are holding a meeting at Sushil Modi’s house to plan future strategy.

Meanwhile, in a press conference, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said, “If a party thinks that we will split the right to choose PM candidate then they are wrong,that right belongs to BJP.” However, he said that the BJP wants the alliance to go on.

10. 50 am:  Shanawaz Hussain confirms BJP won’t attend cabinet meet called by Nitish Kumar

BJP leader Shanawaz Hussain confirms that the party will not attend Nitish Kumar’s cabinet meet. “Think that JD(U) will take a decision in favour of the people of Bihar. We are waiting for their (JD(U)) decision,that is why our party members are not going for the cabinet meet.”

10.15 am: Bihar BJP may skip cabinet meet

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has expressed his anguish over Modi’s elevation in clear terms, has called a meeting of the Bihar Cabinet at 12.30 pm. However, according to reports, the members of the BJP are likely to skip the meet.

Bihar BJP President Mangal Pandey told reporters, “What is the point of cabinet meet? Nitish Kumar should clarify his plans for alliance.”

10.00 am: JD(U)-BJP split announcement likely after Bihar Cabinet meet

It seems the stage is set for the end of 17-year-old alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal(United). While it has already been made evident that the parties are not willing to remain together after the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP poll panel chief, a formal announcement on this is expected today.

All the BJP ministers in the state are slated to meet at the residence of senior party leader and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

This comes a day after the BJP leaders in the state sharpened attack on the chief minister asking him to quit and order fresh elections if he decided to break the partnership.

Earlier, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said that the formation of a Third Front consisting of regional parties would send a ‘good message’. “Regional parties should form a bloc to help each other and deal with the central government. It will send out a good message and we can form a regional power by helping each other,” Kumar told reporters.

He confirmed that he had spoken with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said there are multiple states have unique problems which can be solved by them coming together.