Nitish stakes claim to form govt, threatens to parade MLAs before Prez

Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today staked claim to form government before Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, submitting letters of support of 130 MLAs.

Emerging from Raj Bhawan after an hour-long meeting with the Governor, Kumar said that if opportunity is denied to him to form government or in the event of any 'dilly dallying', he would parade 130 MLAs of JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI and one independent before President Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi.

The JD(U) legislature party chief, who was accompanied by RJD President Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav, said he had told the governor that he was ready to prove his majority in 24 hours or 48 hours, whatever the deadline the Governor may chose to give.

He said they requested the governor that a new government should be in place before the budget session of the Assembly starting from February 20.

The three leaders described the meeting as "satisfactory". Just hours before, the JD(U) expelled Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has refused to quit to allow Nitish's accession, from the party for indiscipline.

The governor was also told that the 130 MLAs supporting Kumar were waiting outside Raj Bhawan wearing their I-cards issued by the assembly secretariat and if he wished he could meet them, Kumar said, adding, "on this, the Governor said 'There is no need of it."

Kumar said he had pointed out reasons to the Governor for having a government in place before the assembly budget session, which was starting from February 20 when Tripathi would have to address a joint session of the two houses on opening day.

"Which government's speech will you read? Budget of which government will be taken up during the session ?" Kumar said he asked the Governor.

On the cabinet decision to authorise Manjhi for dissolution of Bihar assembly, Kumar said former minister Vijay Chaudhary apprised the Governor about the cabinet meeting and the manner in which the proposal was rejected by majority of ministers.

"Governor was told that if he wishes he could ask officers about it (the cabinet meeting) to verify the truth," he said.

"We handed over letters of support of all parties totalling 130 MLAs to the Governor and urged him to invite Nitish Kumar without any loss of time," RJD President Lalu Prasad, who accompanied Kumar and Sharad Yadav in the same car to Raj Bhavan, told reporters.

Sharad Yadav said "We told the Governor the writing is on the wall as to who has the majority ... We urged him to invite Nitish Kumar to form the government without any delay."

Out of a total of 130 MLAs whose letters of support were submitted to Tripathi, 128 were physically present.

Two RJD MLAs, who are out of station were not present but there is no report of them disagreeing with the party decision.

"RJD MLAs Durga Prasad Singh and Ambika Prasad Yadav are out of Patna and that is why they are not here. But the entire flock of 24 RJD MLAs are one with the decision of Lalu Prasad to support Nitish Kumar," RJD spokesman Ezaj Ahmad told reporters outside Raj Bhawan.

CLP leader Sadanand Singh, lone CPI MLA Awdesh Roy and an independent MLA Dulal Chand Goswami were present in support of Kumar.

Kumar said they told the Governor about Manjhi's assertions yesterday after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi that cabinet expansion would be carried soon and two deputy chief ministers would be inducted in his ministry.

"This is an open game of horse trading," Kumar said, adding, "An environment of instability was being created in the state."

Referring to his position as the new JD(U)LP leader, Kumar said after polls Election Commission notifies the status of party in the house. "But, during rest of the term it is the Assembly Speaker who states the status of the members and the parties ... In the present case the assembly speaker has already given recognition to me as the new JD(U)LP leader."

In an apparent dig at Manjhi group, Kumar said it was a violation of the anti-defection law which says there should be two-third majority for formation of a new party.

The lone CPI and an Independent MLA marched to Raj Bhawan wearing their respective flags as turbans and their I-cards hanging from their necks. While Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and Sadanand Singh of Congress were inside Raj Bhawan, they patiently waited outside.

Kumar visited Raj Bhawan minutes after Manjhi left after attending oath function of Chief Information Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha at 12.30 PM.

Manjhi has been given time at 3 PM to meet the Governor on government matters.
Governor is scheduled to leave for Delhi at 7 PM, Raj Bhawan sources said.