As Nitish Kumar joins hands with BJP, here is a look at 10 reasons why the Mahagathbandhan fell apart

Just 20 months after he took oath as Bihar Chief Minister in November 2015, Nitish Kumar today was again sworn in for the sixth term after he formed an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party. He had surprised everyone yesterday by stepping down from the post, citing irreconcilable differences with ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on the issue of corruption charges levelled against his deputy Tejashwi Yadav that created a rift in the Grand Alliance.

After tendering his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi, Kumar told reporters gathered outside Raj Bhawan that "in the circumstances that prevail in Bihar, it became difficult to run the Grand Alliance government".

In the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections, it was a grand victory for the Grand Alliance but all was not well between the key two players of the Mahagathbandhan, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.

The relation between the two alliance partners strained from the time Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Lalu Prasad, his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi in a land-for-hotels case.

Nitish was adamant that Tejashwi Yadav should come clean on the alleged corruption charge for the Grand Alliance to survive and function.

Kumar had supported BJP presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation move which brought the two leaders closer and their mutual admiration for each other has fuelled the talk them coming together.

As the Grand Alliance falls apart, let’s take a look at 10 reasons why Nitish decided to resign

1. Nitish Kumar supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetisation move of November 8 which was criticised by the alliance partners.

2. Bihar CM Nitish announced support for the NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind who was the Governor of Bihar.

3. CBI conducted the raid and filed fresh case against RJD chief Lalu Yadav and family in the corruption case.

4. Enforcement Directorate raided Lalu Prasad daughter and RJD MP Misa Bharti farmhouses in Delhi for a money laundering case probe.

5. JDU asked Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav to come clean on the corruption case against him relating Land for hotel scandal.

6. RJD rejected JDU demand for Tejashwi’s resignation and said that the alliance is intact.

7. Tejashwi abstained from attending ‘Vishwa Yuva Kaushal Divas’ event.

8. Nitish Kumar met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi despite reports of differences in the Grand Alliance.

9. Lalu held a press conference yesterday where he said Nitish has sought Tejashwi’s resignation and he would not resign as Deputy.

10. Nitish submitted resignation yesterday evening to Bihar Governor terming no compromise with basic principles.