<p>Bihar's ruling JD-U appears to be headed for a split over the likely replacement of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi by his predecessor Nitish Kumar.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A day after JD-U president Sharad Yadav called a meeting of its legislature party Saturday, amid speculation that Manjhi will be removed, Manjhi Friday called a meeting of the JD-U legislature party Feb 20.<br /><br />Earlier, Manjhi refused to resign and termed the Sharad Yadav-convened meeting illegal and unconstitutional.<br /><br />Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national general secretary K.C. Tyagi Friday said that a majority of party leaders, including legislators, were with Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.<br /><br />Two ministers, Brishen Patel and Nitish Mishra, Friday declared their support to Manjhi and said they would not attend the legislature meeting called by Sharad Yadav.<br /><br />Patel and Mishra are considered close to Manjhi. Last month, JD-U spokesperson Alok Ajai sought their resignation as they were allegedly likely move to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). <br /><br />"I am with Manjhi... Manjhi himself has declared that he won't attend the legislature meeting," Mishra told the media after meeting the chief minister.<br /><br />"Only Manjhi is authorized to call the JD-U legislature party meeting."<br />Manjhi also enjoys the support of over a dozen party legislators. But he is banking on the support of the BJP, which is openly backing him.<br /><br />JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said party leaders have to abide by the decision of Sharad Yadav.<br /><br />"Those who are terming the meeting unconstitutional should read the party constitution first," he said.<br /><br />Nitish Kumar is yet to say anything over the ongoing developments in the party.<br />The JD-U has 115 legislators in the 243-member assembly. <br /><br />It is supported by 24 legislators of Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal, five of the Congress, one from the Communist Party of India and two independents, making it a total of 147 -- more than the 122 needed for a simple majority. <br /><br />The BJP has 88 legislators and it has the support of three independents. Five seats are vacant.<br /></p>
<p>Bihar's ruling JD-U appears to be headed for a split over the likely replacement of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi by his predecessor Nitish Kumar.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A day after JD-U president Sharad Yadav called a meeting of its legislature party Saturday, amid speculation that Manjhi will be removed, Manjhi Friday called a meeting of the JD-U legislature party Feb 20.<br /><br />Earlier, Manjhi refused to resign and termed the Sharad Yadav-convened meeting illegal and unconstitutional.<br /><br />Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national general secretary K.C. Tyagi Friday said that a majority of party leaders, including legislators, were with Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar.<br /><br />Two ministers, Brishen Patel and Nitish Mishra, Friday declared their support to Manjhi and said they would not attend the legislature meeting called by Sharad Yadav.<br /><br />Patel and Mishra are considered close to Manjhi. Last month, JD-U spokesperson Alok Ajai sought their resignation as they were allegedly likely move to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). <br /><br />"I am with Manjhi... Manjhi himself has declared that he won't attend the legislature meeting," Mishra told the media after meeting the chief minister.<br /><br />"Only Manjhi is authorized to call the JD-U legislature party meeting."<br />Manjhi also enjoys the support of over a dozen party legislators. But he is banking on the support of the BJP, which is openly backing him.<br /><br />JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said party leaders have to abide by the decision of Sharad Yadav.<br /><br />"Those who are terming the meeting unconstitutional should read the party constitution first," he said.<br /><br />Nitish Kumar is yet to say anything over the ongoing developments in the party.<br />The JD-U has 115 legislators in the 243-member assembly. <br /><br />It is supported by 24 legislators of Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal, five of the Congress, one from the Communist Party of India and two independents, making it a total of 147 -- more than the 122 needed for a simple majority. <br /><br />The BJP has 88 legislators and it has the support of three independents. Five seats are vacant.<br /></p>