The Janata Dal (United) in Bihar on Tuesday suspended from its fold seven Ministers owing allegiance to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, ahead of the February 20, 2015 trial of strength in the Assembly. The Seven Ministers were suspended by State JD(U) president Basistha Narayan Singh after receiving consent from the party’s national president Sharad Yadav, party chief whip in the Assembly Shrawan Kumar told PTI.
The seven suspended Ministers are: Narendra Singh, Brishen Patel, Shahid Ali Khan, Samrat Chaudhary, Nitish Mishra, Mahachandra Prasad Singh and Bhim Singh. Art and Culture Minister Vinay Bihari is an independent.
The JD (U) has already expelled Mr. Manjhi from the party after which Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary declared him an unattached member.
Mr. Shrawan Kumar said the decision on the suspension was taken after the seven Ministers failed to comply with the party’s direction to quit the Manjhi Cabinet.
The rival camps of Mr. Manjhi and his mentor-turned-foe Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, held separate consultations with their supporters to firm up their strategies even as the BJP refused to show its cards.
Mr. Manjhi, on his return from Delhi after a two-day visit, headed straight to his residence and was in consultation with his supporters to draw up the strategy for the confidence vote.
Ministers Mr. Narendra Singh and Mr. Vinay Bihari, dissident JD(U) leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanoo and expelled JD(U) MP Shabir Ali were among others who met Mr. Manjhi at his residence.
Mr. Vinay Bihari exuded confidence of sailing through in the floor test. “We are confident of proving majority on the floor of the house on February 20,” he told reporters.
Mr. Nitish Kumar remained at his 7 Circular Road residence with senior party leaders who kept pouring in through out the day.
JD(U) MLC Binod Singh is hosting a dinner for all MLAs supporting Mr. Nitish Kumar from the JD(U), the RJD, the Congress and the CPI along with an independent.
A similar dinner is scheduled at senior leader Vijay Chaudhary’s residence on Wednesday and at Mr. Nitish Kumar’s residence on February 19, JD(U) sources said.
Mr. Basistha Narayan Singh said the seven Ministers have been suspended for “indiscipline” as they were told to quit the Ministry after Mr. Manjhi was expelled from the party and declared an unattached member.
“But party whip will be applicable on them as they have been suspended and not expelled from the party,” he told PTI.
All eyes are set on the BJP which refused to show its cards.
“There is still two days left. The party will decide its stand on Manjhi trust vote on February 20 on the floor of the Assembly,” senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters after returning from Delhi during the day.
He said he has apprised BJP national president Amit Shah about the situation in Bihar.
The BJP has called a two-day meeting of its legislature party starting on Wednesday to take a “ground-level feedback” on the issue of support to Mr. Manjhi in the confidence vote.
Support of 87 MLAs belonging to the BJP is crucial for Mr. Manjhi to reach the magic figure of 117 and pass the floor test.
