Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said on Monday the resignation of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is final and is in everyone's favour.
Sharad Yadav's comments come ahead of the the JD(U) legislature party meeting to discuss the ongoing situation after Nitish said on Sunday he needed time till Monday to decide on the plea of JD(U) MLAs that he should withdraw his resignation and continue in office.
"The decision (Nitish Kumar's resignation) is in favour of the nation, the party and Nitish ji. It was a difficult decision, but is final and right," he said.
Two party MLAs have also said that Nitish should resign.
"Nitish Kumar should resign. MLAs are being forced to support Nitish Kumar. The JD(U) may lose the floor test in the assembly if Nitish is re-elected," said Anirudh Yadav.
The JD(U) legislature party will meet on Monday to discuss the ongoing political scenario after the Bihar CM had said that he would re-think his decision.
Nitish's decision to rethink his resignation has been facing resistance from the party president.
An indication to this effect came from the party's national general secretary KC Tyagi - a close associate of Sharad Yadav on Sunday.
"We are in talks with (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad for the formation of an alternative government. He does not want Nitish Kumar back as CM," a TV report had quoted Tyagi as saying.
But speaking to reporters on Sunday, Lalu dismissed reports of him joining forces with the JD(U) as concocted and baseless saying the election of the party's leader was an internal matter.
Informed sources attributed Lalu's denial as a measure of caution in the wake of uncertainty caused by infighting within the JD(U), with party MLAs split into pro- and anti-Nitish camps.
A cryptic statement by Sharad Yadav appeared to suggest Nitish Kumar's exit was linked to his June, 2013 decision to break away from the NDA, after Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP campaign chief.
"Nitish's resignation is the next step in continuation with the decision to part ways with the NDA," Sharad Yadav told reporters.
Nitish's decision to rethink his resignation has been facing resistance from the party president.
An indication to this effect came from the party's national general secretary KC Tyagi - a close associate of Sharad Yadav on Sunday.
"We are in talks with (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad for the formation of an alternative government. He does not want Nitish Kumar back as CM," a TV report had quoted Tyagi as saying.
But speaking to reporters on Sunday, Lalu dismissed reports of him joining forces with the JD(U) as concocted and baseless saying the election of the party's leader was an internal matter.
Informed sources attributed Lalu's denial as a measure of caution in the wake of uncertainty caused by infighting within the JD(U), with party MLAs split into pro- and anti-Nitish camps.
A cryptic statement by Sharad Yadav appeared to suggest Nitish Kumar's exit was linked to his June, 2013 decision to break away from the NDA, after Narendra Modi's elevation as BJP campaign chief.
"Nitish's resignation is the next step in continuation with the decision to part ways with the NDA," Sharad Yadav told reporters.
Efforts for an alternative government were part of efforts "to save the Constitution", he added.
Sources said JD(U) MLAs were split down the middle over a possible Nitish re-election as the legislature party leader, to enable him to return as CM.
"Most party MLAs favour Nitish's return as CM," said water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, a close associate of Nitish Kumar.
Sharad supporters, however, indicated he wanted Bihar law minister Narendra Narayan Yadav to head the new government.
The Nitish Kumar camp, however, got a boost after agricultural minister Narendra Singh, seen as a rival claimant to the CM's post, told reporters on Sunday he wanted Nitish back as chief minister.
"There is no question of me forming an alternative government with the support of the BJP," Singh said, seeking to quash suggestions he was in touch with the BJP leadership.
There were demonstrations by JD(U) activists in many parts of Bihar, demanding Nitish's return as CM.
Sharad had to face protests from Nitish supporters when he reached Patna Sunday afternoon.
(With PTI inputs)