New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned from his office on Wednesday evening citing irreconcilable differences with ally RJD on the issue of corruption charges against his deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. This has thrown the state in a political turmoil.

Talking to reporters outside Raj Bhavan in Patna after submitting his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi, Kumar said present circumstances compelled him to resign from his post. He said that he tried his best to lead the grand alliance government but political situation does not permit him to continue the government. The Governor has accepted the resignation.

Kumar took this decision after JD(U) legislators' meeting at his residence in Patna. Party sources said Kumar took the drastic decision due to ongoing political crisis arising out after lodging of an FIR against Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav in land graft case by CBI.

The sudden development throws the politics of Bihar into chaos with no party having a majority in the 243-member Assembly. JD(U) has 71 seats, while RJD headed by Tejashwi's father Lalu Prasad, has 80. The BJP has 53.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed Nitish Kumar for his decision to resign from the post of Bihar Chief Minister over the issue of corruption. In a series of tweets, Modi congratulated Kumar for joining the fight against corruption saying that 125 crore people of the country are welcoming and supporting honesty. He said, it is the need of the hour to set aside political differences and fight collectively against the corruption for the country especially for the bright future of Bihar.