Failing to manage required support, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was on a sticky wicket on Monday as Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi is reported to have refused to give him time till start of the Assembly session on February 20 to prove his majority and also turned down his request for Cabinet expansion. After meeting Manjhi and Nitish Kumar and Assembly Speaker separately, Keshri Nath Tripathi left for Delhi.
Manjhi on Sunday had claimed he would induct 17 more Ministers and appoint two Deputy Chief Ministers. This was seen as a ploy to split the JD(U) and was strongly opposed by the Nitish camp. Sources said the Governor may not grant another ten days time to Manjhi to prove his majority in view of possible chaos that could break out following the threat of agitation by the Nitish camp both in Patna and Delhi.
There is indication that the Governor may first ask Manjhi to prove his majority, and if he fails, Nitish will get the chance to win the floor test. Manjhi wanted to prove his majority after February 19, while Nitish camp insisted this should be done within 48 hours. The Governor is expected to convene special Session of the Assembly any day between February 12 and February 14 after returning to Patna following discussion in Delhi with the Centre.
In the fast-changing political situation in the ruling JD(U), party president Sharad Yadav on Monday expelled Manjhi from the party. Trying to put up a brave front despite all the odds, Manjhi trashed the JD(U)’s decision to expel him from the party after removing him from the post of the leader of the JD(U) legislature Party.
Brimming with confidence that he enjoyed the majority, former CM Nitish Kumar marched to Raj Bhavan accompanied by Sharad Yadav and RJD boss lalu Prasad, with supporting MlAs following them, and staked claim to form a Government. The Governor was urged by Nitish camp to take a decision soon to avoid lurking threat of horse trading.
Earlier, pro-Nitish MlAs numbering 97 met at Nitish’s residence while RJD MlAs held their meeting at the residence of former CM Rabri Devi. On the other hand, Manjhi appointed suspended MlA Rajiv Ranjan as Chief Whip of JD(U) in the Assembly. Sharwan Kumar, the chief whip, contested Manjhi’s decision saying the Assembly has not recognised Ranjan as Chief Whip. Manjhi camp’s Minister Narendra Singh claimed support of 140 MlAs and said the BJP has agreed to support Manjhi, a claim immediately contradicted by State BJP president Mangal Pandey.
The Governor began his exercise by first inviting Nitish, Sharad and lalu at 1.30 pm. The leaders emerged after 45 minutes meeting. At 3 pm, Manjhi went to meet Tripathi and after half an hour meeting, he told media that he was ready to prove his majority even on Tuesday on the floor of the Assembly but the voting should be secret. “I have left everything at the wisdom of the Governor. But I told him that Nitish was elected as leader of the legislature Party illegally,” he said.
lalu told Tripathi that since the Budget Session of the Assembly has been convened on February 20 and the Governor has Constitutional obligation to address the joint session that day, he should solve the problem at the earliest. “Nitish has support of 131 MlAs, including ours, and be invited to take oath without wasting time,” lalu said he told Tripathi.
Nitish said he cautioned that if Manjhi is given time horse-trading will start openly. “If Manjhi recommends expansion of his Cabinet or dissolution of the Assembly it will be unconstitutional since he neither enjoys majority in the Assembly nor he is leader of the JD(U) legislature Party any more. He is now not even the member of JD(U),” Nitish pleaded before the Governor. Sharad Yadav added, “It is clearly written on the wall that we have the numbers.”
Kumar said he had pointed out reasons to the Governor for having a Government in place before the Assembly Budget Session, which is starting on February 20, when Tripathi will have to address a joint session of the two Houses on opening day.
“Which Government’s speech will you readIJ Budget of which Government will be taken up during the sessionIJ” Kumar informed the media about having asked the Governor. Kumar said they pointed to the Governor about Manjhi’s assertions in Delhi on Sunday after his meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Cabinet expansion would be carried soon and two Deputy Chief Ministers would be inducted in his Ministry. “This is an open game of horse trading,” Kumar said, adding, “An environment of instability was being created in the State.”
Referring to his position as the new JD(U) legislature Party leader, Kumar said that after polls Election Commission notifies the status of party in the House. “But during rest of the term it is the Assembly Speaker who states the status of the members and the parties ... In the present case, the Assembly Speaker has already given recognition to me as new JD(U) legislature Party leader.”
Manjhi said he has also apprised the Governor about a writ filed in the Patna High Court on Monday by MlA Rajeshwar Raj challenging the election of Kumar as JD(U) legislature Party leader at an “unconstitutional” meeting called by party president Sharad Yadav on Saturday last. Raj is a JD(U) MlA and is supporting Manjhi.
“I requested him that the floor test be held by secret ballot and one leader from each of the two (rival) groups of JD(U) be present during counting of votes,” said Manjhi, who was accompanied by Ministers Bhim Singh, Vinay Bihari, Nitish Mishra and Samrat Chaudhary.
On Kumar’s request that a decision on Government formation be taken before February 20, Manjhi said he told the Governor “What’s the hurryIJ ... Where are we running awayIJ” “Whenever you direct us for floor test be it February 19, 20 or 23 we will prove our majority on the floor of the Assembly,” Manjhi said he told the Governor.