Manjhi quits as Bihar chief minister, Nitish to stake claim

JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has the numbers and his successor had to quit after much bravado

GN Bureau | February 20, 2015


#Jitan ram manjhi   #nitish kumar   #bihar chief minister   #bihar crisis   #laloo prasad yadav  


Two hoursbefore the vote of confidence in the assembly, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi  met Governor KN Tripathi and submitted his resignation as it became clear that he does not have the numbers.

READ: Bihar’s famous aloo and infamous democratic farce play out as state slips

Even the support of the BJP's 87 legislators would not helped him touch the half way mark in the assembly at 117 in Friday's trust vote. JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar has the support of 130 MLAs and Manjhi’s tally could have at best 103, if he had gone through the trust motion.

The BJP had asked its legislators to vote for Manjhi but it did come to that stage. JD(U) legislators arrived at the Assembly on Friday with back bands across their mouths. Manjhi was expelled by the JD(U) earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar met the governor and staked his claim to form the government. According to TV reports, he will take oath on Sunday (February 22).


New JD(U) Legislature party leader Nitish Kumar said Manjhi’s resignation has vindicated his plea to the Governor that not much time be given for the trust vote.

“Our stand has been vindicated,” he told media at the Bihar Assembly premises.

“Everything is happening after 14 days, that also surprisingly,” he said adding, “the BJP game plan has been exposed”.

Bihar votes for its next government later this year. The JD(U) has allied with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal to take on the BJP.

The BJP and the JD(U) aborted their alliance due to Nitish Kumar. He was opposed to the BJP's decision to select Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. However, Nitish Kumar suffered a humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections. His party won just two seats in the national election, and he resigned, accepting responsibility for the colossal wipeout and Manjhi took his place.

 

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