Beleaguered Chief Minister Jitam Ram Manjhi and senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar devised their strategies ahead of the crucial floor test on Friday. While Nitish-led JD(U) suspended the membership of seven Ministers owing allegiance to Manjhi, the CM cancelled all his official programmes after his return from Delhi on Tuesday and was closeted with a group of Ministers and legislators supporting him.
The seven Ministers suspended by the party on Monday are Narendra Singh, Brishen Patel, Shahid Ali Khan, Samrat Chaudhary, Nitish Mishra, Mahachandra Prasad Singh and Bhim Singh. JD(U) has already expelled Manjhi from the party after which Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary declared him an unattached member.
JD(U) chief whip in the Vidhan Sabha, 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’s Cabinet. The rival camps of Manjhi and his mentor-turned-foe Nitish Kumar meanwhile held separate consultations with their supporters to firm up their strategies even as BJP refused to show its cards.
Despite odds staked against him, the Manjhi’s camp exuded confidence of winning the confidence vote. “We are confident of proving majority on the floor of the House on February 20,” Manjhi’s Cabinet colleague Vinay Bihari said. At the same time, besides cancelling two official functions here, Manjhi also called off his visit to Khagaria.
Though BJP is yet to spell out its strategy on confidence vote, Bihari said “Our talks with senior BJP leaders in Delhi have been positive.” Dissident JD(U) leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanoo, who met Manjhi at his residence also exuded confidence of sailing through the confidence vote. Expelled JD(U) former MP Shabir Ali also met Manjhi. Meanwhile, blaming BJP for the ‘chaos’ in Bihar by propping up Manjhi against him, Nitish Kumar trashed the saffron party for justifying the 14-day time given to Manjhi to seek a vote of confidence.
“The writing is clear on the wall that 130 MlAs of JD(U), RJD, Congress, one CPI and an Independent are with us. In such a condition, giving 14-day time to Manjhi by the Governor for floor test cannot be justified from any angle,” Kumar, who was elected as the new JD(U) legislature Party leader said. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being behind the “script” to wipe him out, Kumar said “Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was convinced during our meeting on February 9 that opportunity should be given to Manjhi to prove majority on the floor of the Assembly ahead of February 20. But, everything changed after Manjhi met the PM.”
Kumar rubbished the plea for secret ballot saying it was against the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with anti-defection law. “How can a popular Government run on the basis of secret ballotIJ” he asked stressing those who violate the party whip would be expelled.
Refusing to show its cards, BJP said it would decide on survival of the Jitan Ram Manjhi Government during the trust vote on February 20. “Two days are 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 said. He returned to Patna on Tuesday after meeting party’s Central leadership in Delhi, said he apprised BJP president Amit Shah about the situation in Bihar.
The BJP has called a meeting of its legislature party on February 18 and 19 to take “ground-level feedback” on the issue of support to the Chief Minister from legislators and apprise the Central leadership. “Any decision on support to Manjhi will be taken after that,” Modi said. JD (U) MlC Binod Singh also hosted a dinner for all MlAs supporting Nitish Kumar from JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI and an independent. A similar dinner is scheduled at senior leader Vijay Chaudhary’s residence on Wednesday and at Nitish Kumar’s residence on February 19, a day ahead of the floor test.
Meanwhile, an FIR was registered against JD(U) MlA Anant Singh for allegedly threatening to beat up the Chief Minister for chalking out a different path from Nitish Kumar. The FIR has been registered on the complaint of Upendra Manjhi, nephew of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, station house officer of Khijarsarai police station Sushil Kumar Rahul said.