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January 4, 2001

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Nitish Kumar to quit Union Cabinet,
hands over resignation to George

Union Agriculture Minister and senior Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar may quit the Union Cabinet following the eruption of internal differences in the party.

Kumar said in Patna on Thursday that he had submitted his resignation letter to senior Samata Party leader and Union Defence Minister George Fernandes in Delhi on Wednesday night.

Kumar said he was facing challenges from his own party colleagues. The bugle of revolt was sounded by Bihar Samata chief Raghunath Jha and a few party MPs.

"The recent statements by six party MPs had hurt me," Kumar said, adding that this incident had jolted him and hence he decided to resign from the Union Cabinet.

Kumar said that Fernandes was a senior party leader and the one who had taken the decision on the number of party MPs to be inducted in the Union Cabinet.

Kumar said he was now feeling independent and free from pressure.

Meanwhile, Samata Party Bihar unit president Raghunath Jha renewed his threat to split the party by holding a parallel convention in Patna on Friday, if his claim to retain the post of state president and opposition to merger with the Janata Dal-United were not entertained.

''We will go ahead with our programme to hold a parallel meeting to elect a new Samata state president if the demands are not met,'' Jha said on his return from New Delhi.

Jha claimed that five more MPs of Samata had extended support.

Agencies

ALSO SEE
Fernandes averts split in Samata Party: PTI
Samta split imminent as dissidents oppose merger with JD(U)

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