Speculation rife on Manjhi ouster; Sharad arrives for meeting

Amid speculation of removal of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav and party General Secretary K C Tyagi will hold a crucial meeting of parliamentarians and those who had contested last year general election this evening.

There is no confirmation whether Manjhi, who had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha poll from Gaya (SC) seat, would attend the meeting at the residence of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Asked about removal of Manjhi, Sharad Yadav who arrived here told reporters at Patna airport "you fellows are saying this" and the meeting was a routine one.

Asked about the possibility of Nitish Kumar being made the chief minister again, JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi said "Nitish Kumar is 'sarvamanya' (all accepted) leader of the party and does not need anybody's 'sifarish'
(recommendation)."

On the chances of Manjhi's ouster, Tyagi said "the legislature party will decide about the CM."

Manjhi said "you all know from where such reports have come from. I am a CM and discharging my duty."

Meanwhile, BJP leader Sushil Modi suggested Manjhi to dissolve Vidhan Sabha before he was forced to quit the chair.

In the 243-member Bihar House, ruling JD(U) has 115 members. It enjoys support of 24 members of RJD, 5 of Congress, 1 of CPI and two Independents which goes much ahead of magic figure of 122. BJP has 88 members and it enjoys support of 3 independents. Five seats are vacant in the House.

Asked if Manjhi in the capacity of leader of the House does not call a meeting of JD(U) Legislature party, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shrawan Kumar said in such a case there was a provision that party state president could call such a meeting.

"The leader of Legislature party is chosen at a meeting called by state party chief, so he has all the rights to convene a meeting of Legislators," Kumar, who is also JD(U) Chief Whip and a close aide of Nitish, told PTI.

Bihar JD(U) President Basistha Narayan Singh had yesterday admitted there was a "distance" between CM and some ministers and had advised Manjhi to take initiative to bridge the gap.

Meanwhile, JD(U) rebels have decided to launch a statewide campaign against Nitish Kumar from February 14 next.

Rebel leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanoo, whose membership was terminated by Assembly Speaker recently and but got a relief from Patna High Court which restored his membership, claimed over a dozen MLAs would take part in the campaign that would begin from Rohtas district.