Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday said Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's resignation was a pre-mediated conspiracy in order to topple the state government.
"Ultimately the conspiracy had to unravel. This was a pre-mediated conspiracy in order to topple the Bihar Government. The wires of this conspiracy stretch right back into the upper most echelons of the BJP leadership. At some point in time, this conspiracy had to unravel," Tewari told ANI here.
"The resignation of the Chief Minister just goes on to demonstrate that eventually even the conspirators realized that they would be punished by the people if they push it beyond a point. So, therefore, that is why the Chief Minister had to resign," he added.
Earlier in the day, 70-year-old Manjhi resigned from the post of Chief Minister. He submitted his resignation ahead of the crucial trust vote.
While tendering his resignation to the Bihar Governor, Manjhi also recommended dissolution of the assembly.
The Governor will now take a final call. He can either accept Manjhi's recommendation and dissolve the House or he can invite Nitish Kumar to form the next government.
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With Manjhi's resignation, the trust vote will not be required.
Manjhi, who had for weeks caused a political commotion by refusing to vacate the office for his former boss Nitish Kumar, seemed certain to lose the trust vote despite the BJP's support.
The BJP had asked its 87 MLAs to vote in favour of Manjhi today while the JD (U), RJD, Congress and CPI had issued a whip to its legislators to vote against him.
Meanwhile, the Bihar Assembly has been adjourned sine die after Manjhi's resignation.