As one of the alliance partners of the Bihar Mahagathbandhan Government, the Congress on Wednesday played it safe saying the party would continue to strive to resolve the differences in the ‘grand alliance’. Expressing disappointment over the resignation of Nitish Kumar as chief minister, the party stated that Congress leadership including chief Sonia Gandhi has lot of respect for Nitish Kumar as a political person.
Party sources said that Sonia and party vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to call on Nitish Kumar to reconsider to lead the people of Bihar as mandated for five years. A few minutes before tendering his resignation, Nitish had called the AICC General Secretary CP Joshi to share his resignation plan who was however suggested by Joshi that nothing should be done in haste when matters could be resolved amicably. Nitish is reminded that he already confided the problem areas in leading the Mahagathbandan during his meeting with Rahul last weekend.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the ‘grand alliance’ was given a mandate for five years and the Congress will strive to respect that. The Congress leader said the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ was given a five-year mandate by people of Bihar based on the policies, principles and cumulative leadership that were presented.
"We are deeply disappointed by the news of resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. We, in the Congress party, particularly Congress president and party vice president have great respect and affection for Nitish Kumar," Surjewala said. "It was also a mandate against the BJP and Prime Minister Narender Modi, who challenged the honour of Bihar who in a public rally was giving the greed of money to lore the Biharis for votes", he said.
"Responsibility lies up on each one of us to respect this mandate. The Congress party will do everything within its means (to see to it) that this mandate is honoured. Any differences of opinion that may have cropped up we will try and sort them out by speaking to each other in an amicable and cordial fashion," he said.