The declaration is more than an expression of his anguish at the killing of over 400 people in the Gaisal train accident. It was probably made with an eye on the assembly elections in Bihar, which are to be held before March next. It has the potential of pitting his personal interests against his party's interests in the state.

His announcement, it is learnt, took even his party colleagues by surprise. ``Like his decision to resign from the Union Cabinet, it too was taken without consulting anyone, including party president George Fernandes,'' said a senior Samata Party leader.

People in the know of things say that Kumar had for a long time been thinking of shifting his attention to state politics. In the assembly elections to be held soon in Bihar, it is widely acknowledged that the Samata-BJP-JD combine will pose a formidable challengeto Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal.

``He knows that, in the event of the Vajpayee Government being voted back to power at the Centre, there will many more claimants to a berth in the Union Cabinet. Besides George, there will be Ramakrishna Hegde from the Lok Shakti, Ram Vilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav from the JD. The alliance's task will be facilitated if Kumar removes himself from the scene,'' the leader said.

Kumar, according to him, would like to position himself as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Samata-BJP-JD combine. But this is a job easier said than done. His efforts are likely to be challenged by leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, and posssibly Paswan.

The Samata Party leadersship too may not accept his offer, as it may jeopardize its prospects in the state in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Railway Minister had won the Barh seat last time by a narrow margin. Any person other than Kumar will find it difficult to retain the seat.

Samata Party spokesmanDigvijay Singh, when contacted, said the party takes a decision only after the resignation offer is formally placed before it. ``It is a personal decision. Why should we accept it? It has no meaning,'' he said.

Sources in the party also said the Railway Minister was also ruffled by the cynical reactions to his decision to resign from the Union Cabinet, owning moral responsibility for the Gaisal rail tragedy. A meeting of senior party leaders advised him to stick to the decision if it was to carry any conviction with the people.