JD(U) expels Manjhi from party

Mr. Manjhi's supporter has approached Patna High Court against Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav.

In the power tussle going on between Janata Dal-United factions in Bihar, one led by former chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday expelled chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi from the party whereas a Manjhi supporter MLA has filed a petition in Patna High Court against Nitish Kumar and party president Sharad Yadav for calling an “illegal and unauthorised” party legislature meeting on Saturday and electing Nitish Kumar as its leader.

Party president Sharad Yadav on Monday informed the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who reached the state capital on this morning, that JD(U) had expelled Jitan Ram Manjhi from the party. The Nitish Kumar-led faction of the party took this decision before meeting the Governor in the afternoon today. Mr. Kumar along with leaders of alliance parties such as RJD, Congress and CPI is to meet the Governor to claim majority in their favour for the formation of the government.

Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi too is scheduled to meet the Governor later in the day to apprise him about the political situation of the state.

Manjhi supporter approaches court

Meanwhile, Rajeshwar Raj, MLA from Karakat assembly constituency, who has declared his support for Mr. Manjhi, filed a petition in the Patna High Court challenging the “illegal and unauthorised” party legislature meeting called by the party president Sharad Yadav on Saturday which further elected Nitish Kumar as its leader.

“It was in contravention of the constitutional propriety and completely illegal as the party president has no right to call such meeting. Only Jitan Ram Manjhi can call such meeting so I’ve challenged this party decision in the court”, said the petitioner Mr. Raj.

Meanwhile, the political developments are taking place at fast pace in the state with party leaders changing sides at every possible moment.

Earlier, the RJD MLA Raghvendra Pratap Singh had declared to support Mr Manjhi but on Monday morning he changed his side and looked sitting with his flock of party’s MLA. Similarly, disgruntled JD(U) leader and minister Ramai Ram who had earlier expressed his displeasure with Nitish Kumar, declared on Monday to go along with him.