The Janata Dal (United) Legislature Party leader Nitish Kumar has asked to be named Leader of the Opposition ahead of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s trust vote slated for February 20, adding a twist to the ongoing power tussle within the party.
Mr. Kumar has claimed the support of 130 MLAs that gives him a majority in the assembly.
Mr. Manjhi has the backing of only 12 MLAs and the BJP with its 87 MLAs is still silent on where it stands.
However, with the way events are unfolding, Mr. Kumar seems to be moving closer to becoming the CM. Sources said a cornered Mr. Manjhi may announce his resignation on the floor of the House after an emotional speech, focusing on him being a Mahadalit and how Mr. Kumar wanted him to be his “puppet”.
His visit to Delhi on Sunday, ostensibly to attend the wedding reception of BJP president Amit Shah’s son, has not yielded much, although he had a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
On Monday, the all-party meeting called by Bihar Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhury in Patna to examine Mr. Kumar’s request that the JD(U) faction he led should be recognised as the main opposition party ended inconclusively, with the BJP — whose leader Nand Kishore Yadav is the current LoP — boycotting the proceedings.
Another meeting has now been called on February 18 to decide on the JD(U)’s request to be recognised as the main opposition party and on separate seating arrangements in the Assembly.
JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi, explaining Mr Kumar’s move, told The Hindu : “The JD (U) led by Nitish Kumar has 130 MLAs that is a majority in the House. Yet, the BJP has been issuing statements opposing Mr. Kumar becoming the CM.
This can only suggest that it wishes to become part of the government with Mr. Manjhi who has just 12 MLAs. If they can pull that off, then Mr. Kumar should become the LoP.
The BJP must make up its mind, either come out openly and back Mr. Manjhi, or retain the LoP position. It can’t have it both ways.”
Mr. Kumar’s move is clearly aimed at embarrassing the BJP that has distanced itself from Mr. Manjhi since it suffered a humiliating defeat in the recent Delhi assembly elections.
Mr. Nand Kishore Yadav said his party had been recognised as the main opposition after the JD(U) split with it. Mr. Yadav has even said that if the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) faction is recognised as the main opposition party, it will go to court.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kumar’s efforts to become the Chief Minister got a boost with the Patna High Court on Monday staying all the decisions taken by his government at the last three Cabinet meetings, saying he needed to prove his majority on the floor of the House first.
These decisions include the controversial one on including the Paswan community in the Mahadalit category.
