JD(U) meet begins, Nitish meets Governor

The crucial meeting of JD(U) began at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence here to discuss on the decision to sever ties with BJP.

Kumar is then scheduled to meet the Governor after the party meeting.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav has arrived at 1, Anne Marg (official residence of the Chief Minister) for meeting with party MPs, ministers, legislators and other party leaders.

Party sources said Kumar would meet Governor D Y Patil after the party meeting to acquaint him with the situation.

Sources in Raj Bhavan told PTI that Patil is slated to meet the Chief Minister at 2 PM. There is indication that Kumar may recommend sacking of BJP ministers to the Governor, they said.
JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi told reporters that there was no scope left for continuing in NDA after the alliance party gave a clear signal of choosing Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.

Several JD(U) MPs including Ranjan Yadav, Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan, Ali Anwar, Monazir Hassan, state party president Bashist Narayan Singh and other leaders were seen entering the chief minister's residence for the meeting.

Earlier, Kumar held an emergency Cabinet meeting at his residence without BJP ministers. The 11 BJP ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, did not attend the Cabinet meeting saying it was "meaningless".

"What is the need for convening the Cabinet meeting by the Chief Minister as all indications suggest that JD(U) has decided to split with the BJP-led NDA?" Bihar unit BJP president Mangal Pandey told reporters.