Bihar CM quits after losing party backing

The chief minister of one of India's biggest states resigned yesterday after weeks of political turmoil, paving the way for the return of his popular predecessor.

Jitan Ram Manjhi was left with little choice but to quit as chief minister of eastern Bihar state after he lost the backing of his Janata Dal (United) party.

He resigned hours before a confidence vote he was certain to lose, capping weeks of political uncertainty in India's third most populous state, which is also one of the nation's poorest.

He was booted out of the JD(U) earlier this month after defying an order from his one-time mentor and predecessor Nitish Kumar to vacate the position and allow him to return as chief minister.

Soon after Manjhi was formally expelled, Kumar was unanimously elected as leader of his party.