Nitish-led JD-U stakes claim to form Bihar government

The JD-U submitted letters of support to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi Sunday staking claim to form the government, a day after former chief minister Nitish Kumar was re-elected the legislature party leader.

Janata Dal-United's (JD-U) state president Vashsisht Narain Singh said the party's allies Rashtriya Janata Dal's Abdul Bari Siddiqui and the Congress' Sadanand Singh also submitted letters of support for Nitish Kumar to the governor's office.

"We have staked claim to form the next government after Nitish Kumar was re-elected JD-U legislature party leader," Sadanand Singh told media here.

"There is a list of over 130 legislators out of the 243 in support of Nitish Kumar to form the government," he said.

Singh said that Governor Tripathi should now invite Nitish Kumar to form the government.

"Delay to invite Nitish Kumar to form government will encourage horse-trading," he said.

The governor is currently in Kolkata as he holds the additional charge of West Bengal governor. He is likely to arrive here either late Sunday or Monday, officials said.