Even as Nitish Kumar was knocking on the doors of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Patna High Court on Wednesday declared his appointment as leader of JD(U) legislature party as “illegal”. The court also observed that JD(U) had removed Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi from the post of legislature party leader without following any proper procedure. The court has fixed February 18 as the next date of hearing.

Bihar strongman Nitish Kumar and Manjhi are involved in power struggle. Nitish was elected as leader in the legislature party meeting called by party president Sharad Yadav. However, Manjhi had called that meeting as “illegal and unauthorised” as only he, being the leader of the legislature party, was authorised to call such a meeting of party legislators.

JD(U) MLA from Karakat assembly constituency, Rajeshwar Raj, had filed a petition in the Patna High Court challenging Nitish Kumar’s appointment. Raj is supporting Manjhi in the power tussle.

“Today, while hearing my petition, the Patna High Court termed nomination of Nitish Kumar by the Speaker as the JD(U) legislative party leader as illegal,” said  Raj.

Nitish Kumar currently is camping along with his supporting MLAs in Delhi to meet the president.  President Pranab Mukherjee will decide today (Wednesday) on the plea. Nitish wants to present supporting MLAs before the president to press a point that he has a majority in the Bihar Assembly.

All eyes now are fixed on Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi who is in Delhi. Nitish had met the Governor and staked claim to form the Government as he claimed to have the support of 130 MLAs.

Manjhi too had met the Governor and requested him for the trial of trust vote on the floor of the House with secret ballot and independent observers.