Acting Bihar Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi has justified his decision to grant Bihar Chief Minsiter Jitan Ram Manjhi time till February 20 to prove his majority in the State Assembly on February 20 and rejected JD(U) charges against him of playing into the hands of the BJP. Tripathi was talking to reporters in Kanpur where he had gone to attend a private function. Tripathi, who was also former Speaker of Uttar Pradesh State Assembly, said he was not concerned with the statements of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar.
“You cannot change a CM overnight and Nitish wanted that he should be made the CM within 48 hours,” the Bengal Governor, who is holding the additional charge of Bihar, said. “I have always worked in accordance with the Constitutional norms and ethics and no one can force me to do anything illegal,” he added.
In his attack on Nitish, Tripathi said that the JD(U) leader is very anxious to become the CM but it is not good for democracy. “let the Assembly decide on February 20 as who will be the CM,” he stated. Tripathi said Nitish staked claim on February 9 and a decision was reached on February 11, on the basis of Supreme Court’s judgement, to allow Manjhi to hold floor-test in the Assembly on February 20, the opening day of the Budget Session.
“On February 20, just after the address by the Governor, CM Jitan Ram Manjhi will seek trust vote for his Government and thereafter voting would take place inside the Assembly,” he said. Meanwhile, in Patna, Nitish Kumar clarified he said nothing against the Governor and he has full respect for him. But he added that despite the Governor agreeing with him that the issue should be settled before the Budget session, he changed his mind possibly after pressure from somewhere else.
Commenting on Tripathi’s comment that he was pained at former CM’s criticism of him, Nitish said he did not accuse the Governor. “I am not in a haste, and I favour giving opportunity to Manjhi to prove his majority. My only objection is that too much time has been granted to Manjhi, which may induce horse-trading,” he said.
Nitish also took exception to the big decisions and announcement made by Manjhi in the past few days and asked who will be responsible for these decisions and which Government will implement them. “It appears that he has been given opportunity to make such announcements without considering their implications and liabilities involved,” he said.