Following JD(U)’s humiliating defeat, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar resigns

Patna: Following the humiliating defeat of the Janata Dal (United) or the JD(U) in Lok Sabha Elections 2014, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.on Saturday tendered resignation. The 'Modi wave' completely wiped out the ruling Kumar-led JD(U) and the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD for the political map of Bihar. The worst hit by this 'Modi wave' was Kumar's JD (U), which was decimated in this election. It's tally is down to just two seats, while the party had 20 members in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Not even party president Sharad Yadav could save his seat. He was defeated by RJD's Pappu Yadav from Madhepura. The ruling party in Bihar managed to win only Nalanda, Nitish's traditional stronghold, and Purnea parliamentary constituencies. It was not even in contest in most of 40 seats in Bihar. Nitish is expected to address the media shortly. He has also reportedly recommended the dissolution of the state assembly. His resignation may precipitate snap polls in the state that is due for assembly elections in November next year. Kumar's government was in a minority in the Bihar assembly and there was speculation the dissent within his party will grow, with support from the opposition. Kumar's defeat is seen by many as the fallout of his decision to snap ties with 17-year-old ally BJP last year over Narendra Modi's elevation, a move that seems to have backfired spectacularly. On the back of a hugely popular BJP-JD(U) government that was in power in Bihar between 2004 and 2009, Nitish Kumar's party had won 20 of the state's 40 Lok Sabha seats. Alliance partners BJP won a further 12. The NDA managed to capture almost 80% constituencies in the state. It captured 31 seats in this election. The BJP led the collation by winning 22 seats (+10), whereas the LJP won 6 and the RLSP won all 3 seats it contested. The saffron party leaders have asked for Kumar's resignation on moral grounds, saying that the chief minister has lost popular support. ​The BJP won a landslide victory with 282 seats in the 543 member Parliament; the party won over 333 seats with its allies.