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Nitish Kumar may resign today and join NDA fold to form govt after ditching Mahagathbandhan

The Bihar CM is likely to meet his party legislators around 10am before resignation

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav during birth centenary celebrations of former state chief minister Karpoori Thakur, in Patna, on January 24, 2024 | PTI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to resign after meeting the governor at 11.30am on Sunday, according to reports.

Reports say the JD(U) supremo is set to rejoin the NDA fold and stake claim to form a new government with BJP's support as the Mahagathbandhan coalition with Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress is struggling to stick together.

The Bihar CM is likely to meet his party legislators around 10am before tendering his resignation at Raj Bhavan, said reports. The formation of a new government with BJP backing is expected by the evening.

"Offices, including the Governor's secretariat, have been ordered to remain open on Sunday in view of the likelihood of hectic activities", PTI quoted as source as saying.

Earlier, JD(U) spokesperson K.C. Tyagi said the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar is on the verge of collapse. "The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar," he told reporters.

Kumar had ditched the BJP to form the current Bihar government with RJD and Congress support less than 18 months ago. His party was previously in alliance with RJD and Congress till 2017.

Currently, the RJD is the single largest party in the Bihar assembly with 79 MLAs. If Kumar ditches the Mahagathbandan, the coalition will be short of eight MLAs to retain majority.