As a defiant Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was expelled from the Janata Dal (United) by party president Sharad Yadav on Monday, all eyes were on Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi and his response to the JD(U) legislature party leader Nitish Kumar’s demand for a trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly within 48 hours.
Both Mr. Kumar and Mr. Manjhi claimed majority in the Assembly after separately meeting the Governor on Monday. Mr. Kumar said 130 MLAs were on his side, of which 128 were physically present with him.
Mr. Manjhi’s camp claimed the support of 140 MLAs and said he was willing to face a trial of strength any time but demanded a secret vote. “MLAs are feeling threatened,” Mr. Manjhi said.
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He described the meeting that elected Mr. Kumar as JD(U) legislature party leader as “unconstitutional.”
Mr. Tripathi reached Delhi on Monday evening for the Governors’ conference on Tuesday and he is expected to discuss the situation in the State with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP functionaries.
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The Manjhi camp claimed the BJP’s support, but the party remained non-committal. “We haven't taken any decision yet, but we are sure that Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is the Chief Minister, according to his statements, is very confident and Nitish Kumar's camp looks very disappointed,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Mr. Kumar’s list of 130 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly — that currently has 10 vacancies — includes a majority of JD(U) MLAs, legislators from the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress, the CPI and an Independent. The magic halfway mark in the Assembly now is 117.
JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi said if Mr. Kumar is called, he would be able to form the government. Mr. Kumar and the MLAs backing him are all booked on a flight to Delhi on Tuesday to present their case to President Pranab Mukherjee should the Governor not give them an opportunity to prove their majority on the floor of the House. “If our voice will not be heard properly, we would march to the President and parade before them,” Mr. Kumar said.
Mr. Manjhi’s expulsion came a day after he met the Prime Minister in New Delhi and the JD(U) accusing the BJP of trying to create a “constitutional crisis” in Bihar. The JD(U) leadership had been working over the last few days to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, but the crisis grew with Mr. Manjhi ruling out his resignation before a trial of strength in the Assembly.
With Bihar set to go to the polls later this year, the JD(U) clearly feels it needs Mr. Kumar — who had parted ways with the BJP in 2013 — at the helm of affairs if it is to have a chance at winning the Assembly elections.
Jitan Ram Manjhi - A timeline