Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar was baffled on Sunday when he was told that BJP chief Nitin Nabin, who was scheduled to come to his chamber to resign as a TMC member, had left Patna due to an “emergency”.
Kumar, a senior BJP leader, was away in Delhi a day ago when he was called back to the Bihar capital with a message that Nabin, the MLA from Bankipur who was elected to the Rajya Sabha two weeks ago, wants to vacate the Assembly seat.
“I was attending a function at Bharat Mandapam when state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi called me to inform me that the party’s national president wanted to resign on March 29. So, I boarded a return flight last night,” the Speaker told reporters who gathered in his room.
“Apparently, there was an emergency that prompted the national president to leave. Yes, he has to vacate his seat in the Assembly within 14 days of the Rajya Sabha election. There is time until tomorrow,” he added.
BJP sources said Nabin has left for the poll-bound state of Assam and could leave for Delhi from the northeastern state.
When the Speaker was asked if Nabin could resign “in virtual mode”, he replied: “I am not aware of that. As far as I understand the rules, the physical presence of the MLA is required.”
Prem Kumar was also asked about reports that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U), who was elected to the Rajya Sabha along with Nabin, is likely to resign on Monday.
“He (the Prime Minister) is a member of the Legislative Council. Hence, I will not be privy to such a development. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat or the Vidhan Parishad Secretariat should be contacted for information,” he replied.
The Speaker also said that he was on his way to the national capital to attend the above-mentioned ceremony, but would return late in the evening.
