JD(U) chief says successor to Nitish to be chosen tomorrow

New Delhi, May 17: Soon after

resigned as

Chief Minister, president of his party JD(U) Sharad Yadav today said his successor would be chosen tomorrow and made it clear that the party will tie-up even with bitter rival RJD for formation of a "secular alliance".

"A CM candidate will be decided tomorrow...We will take a decision tomorrow which will surprise the nation. We will save the country," Yadav told reporters here. He was speaking soon after Kumar resigned as Bihar Chief Minister taking moral responsibility for the party's dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls in which it got only two out of 40 seats.

Stressing that JD(U) remains the single largest party and will form the government under a new leader, he rejected suggestions that Kumar quit for the fear of a split in the party. "There is no rebellion. If there is any rebel why doesn't he go to the Governor? who is stopping them?," he shot back.

Commenting on the election results, Yadav said, "The kind of mandate that has come has posed a challenge to us. We will effectively deal with it. We will rally non-BJP people around." When asked if the non-BJP 'secular alliance' meant that the hatchet with Lalu would be buried, he said, "the question is about the country. So if there are old differences, they do not pose a problem.

"All of them (differences) will be over and the battle will begin from there. Bihar is the place from where most agitations and new paths emerge. There are all kind of secular people and all will participate in that," he said. Yadav, however, declined to dwell in details over any such alliance, saying timing is of great importance in politics.

PTI