Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Monday that he would not reconsider his decision to withdraw his resignation, and added that the Janata Dal (United) is expected to elect a new leader this evening.
"I am not reconsidering my decision to withdraw my resignation My decision has not been taken in a wave of emotions; it was my moral responsibility to take this decision and I want to request the people to understand this," said Kumar.
"I consulted other party members and explained the reasons for taking this decision, and now, everyone is proud it. Extraordinary situations call for extraordinary measures to be taken," he added.
Party MLAs yesterday unanimously chose Kumar as their leader and insisted that he withdraw his resignation, but Nitish refused. He sought a day's time to decide on the matter.
After the meeting here, JD (U) General Secretary Anjani Kumar said that party's MLA want Nitish to continue as chief minister.
Nitish had stepped down from the top post on Saturday after taking moral responsibility for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.
Kumar has not recommended dissolution of the assembly, this leaving a window for formation of a new government, if any other party cobbles up majority in the 243-member house.
The JD-U won only two parliamentary seats out of 40 in Bihar while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) cornered 31 seats. Modi's BJP won 282 seats, 10 more than the majority required to rule.
