After cracks in NDA, now Congress splits in Bihar

In a major jolt to the Congress, four party MLCs in Bihar on Thursday quit their parent organisation and joined the Janata Dal (United).

Those who joined the JD (U) in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who turned 67 on Thursday, include former Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary, Dilip Choudhary, Ram Chandra Bharti and Tanveer Akhtar.

"The way Congress had isolated me despite my tireless efforts to rejuvenate the party, I was left with no option than to quit Congress and join the JD (U)," said Ashok Choudhary, who was earlier Education Minister in the Nitish Cabinet during the Grand Alliance regime in the State.

"Having worked closely with Nitish ji for 20 months, I can vouch that he, at present, is the best Chief Minister in the country," said Choudhary, shortly after assuming membership of the JD (U).

The defection of four Congress MLCs to JD (U) won't invite action under the anti-defection law as the Congress has six legislators in the Council and these four, who have defected, constitute the pre-requisite two-thirds strength.

"The Congress party made him Bihar unit chief. He was also made MLC and then a minister in the Nitish Cabinet. If even then, Ashok has decided to quit his parent party, then he should resign as MLC as well," acting president of the Bihar Congress, Kaukab Qadri, told Deccan Herald.

Meanwhile, all eyes are now on the Congress MLAs, many of whom are reported to be uncomfortable with the RJD alliance. However since the party has 27 MLAs in the Assembly, at least 18 MLAs (two-thirds of total strength) are required to effect a split.

The split in Congress comes a day after former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi Manjhi walked out of the NDA and joined the RJD-led alliance. On the same day (Wednesday), Ashok Choudhary met Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Haroon Rashid and pleaded that his group of four MLCs be recognised as a separate group. However, on Thursday, he and three other Congress MLCs formally joined the JD (U).