Bihar crisis: Confident Nitish and defiant Manjhi fight it out

A defiant Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was on Monday expelled by JD(U) which accused him of "indiscipline" and demanded that Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi ask him to take a trial of strength in the Assembly within 48 hours. The expulsion came ahead of Nitish Kumar's meeting with Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi to stake claim to form government.

Amidst several developments happening in this crisis-like situation in Bihar, CM Manjhi was accused of getting closer to the BJP. He even demanded for a secret ballot voting. 

 

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22:51 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Bihar Chief Minister declared as an unattached member of Bihar assembly

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was declared on Monday as unattached member in state Assembly following his expulsion from JD(U). Read more here.

22:41 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Nitish Kumar seeks time from President to parade 130 supporting MLAs.

Apparently apprehending a delay in an invitation to him to form the government, Bihar JD(U) LP leader Nitish Kumar on Monday requested for time from President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday to parade all 130 supporting MLAs. To read more, click here.

23:05 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Lalu Yadav dares BJP to 'come clean' on support to Jitan Ram Manjhi.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad on Monday dared BJP to "come clean" on support to Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the current political imbroglio in the state. Read more, here.

19:34 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

With battle lines drawn between rival factions of ruling JD(U) in Bihar, incumbent Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's camp on Monday claimed the support of 56 MLAs of the party and RJD and exuded confidence that it would sail through the floor test whenever it happens.

New JD(U) LP leader and Manjhi's mentor Nitish Kumar has staked claim to form government with support of 130 MLAs of the JD(U) and allies RJD, Congress, CPI and an Independent during his meeting with Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. Kumar was accompanied by RJD president Lalu Prasad, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and CLP leader Sadanand Singh. "We have the committed support of 44 JD(U) and 12 RJD MLAs, all of whom will stand by Jitan Ram Manjhi and support his government during the trust vote whenever it takes place," Manjhi-appointed JD(U) chief whip Rajiv Ranjan told reporters.

Exuding confidence that the Manjhi government would pass the litmus test during the trust vote, Ranjan, who was expelled by JD(U) recently, claimed many more MLAs of the ruling party as well as RJD would join the Manjhi camp soon. When asked to divulge their identities, Ranjan said it would not be 'proper' at this stage.

17:49 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Bihar: Manjhi meets Governor, asserts he can prove majority on house floor

"I told the Governor that I can prove majority on the floor of the House whenever he asks me," Manjhi told reporters emerging from Raj Bhavan after a nearly 45-minute-long meeting.

16:06 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Manjhi demands secret ballot voting

After meeting Governor, speaking to reporters, Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "I have requested (Governor) for secret ballot voting, and that during counting, representatives from both the parties should be there. I have left everything for him to decide. He (Governor) has assured me he will soon take a call."

15:40 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Jitan Ram Manjhi arrives at Governor house to meet him again. 

15:35 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Decision should be made on an immediate basis: Nitish Kumar

Speaking to reporters, Nitish Kumar said, "The decision should be made on an immediate basis, within 24 to 48 hours. We will wait for the decision and if not given a chance, we will take our support groups to meet President in Delhi."

15:25 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Nitish Kumar: Governor told that a new government should be in place before Budget Session of Assembly starting February 20.

15:15 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Governor told that a new government should be in place before Budget Session of Assembly starting February 20: Nitish Kumar. 

15:10 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Nitish Kumar should be made the CM : Lalu Prasad Yadav

"Without wasting time, Nitish Kumar should be made the CM. We lend our support to Nitish ji, he should be elected without much delay," said Lalu Prasad Yadav.  

15:10 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Nitish Kumar stakes claim to form government

New JD(U) Legislature Party leader Nitish Kumar staked claim to form government before Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi, parading 130 MLAs in his support. Kumar, RJD President Lalu Prasad and his JD(U) counterpart Sharad Yadav travelled in the same car to the Raj Bhawan.

"We have told the Governor that all the MLAs are present here with their identity cards. We are ready to prove our majority within the deadline the Governor decides," Kumar said.

Altogether 130 MLAs including from JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI legislators and an Independent MLA, marched behind the three leaders and waited outside the Raj Bhawan shouting slogans in favour of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad.

14:30 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

PM Narendra Modi blessed political crisis in Bihar: JD(U)

Amid the ongoing political tussle in Bihar, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi alleged that this crisis was scripted in Delhi and had the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Bihar crisis was scripted in Delhi. Operation Jitan Ram Manjhi has been engineered by (BJP chief) Amit Shah and it has PM Modi's blessings. Yesterday, the tone that Manjhi had used after meeting the PM cannot be that of a minority chief minister," said Tyagi.

1:45 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar arrived at the Raj Bhavan here to meet Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi and stake a claim to form the government in the state.

12:45 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad accompany Nitish Kumar to Raj Bhawan. Kumar accompanied by MLAs of JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI.

12:30 IST Monday, 9 February 2015

JD(U) expels Jitan Ram Manjhi

Ddefiant Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was expelled by JD(U) which accused him of "indiscipline" and demanded that Governor Kesri Nath Tripathi ask him to take a trial of strength in the Assembly within 48 hours.

Party President Sharad Yadav ordered Manjhi's expulsion for "indulging in anti-party activities" ahead of Nitish Kumar's meeting with the Governor to stake claim to form government.

"Party President Sharad Yadav has expelled Manjhi from primary membership of JD(U) for indiscipline. Article 3 of the JD(U) Constitution gives this special power to the party President under which he can appoint or expel anybody," party general secretary KC Tyagi said at a press conference in Delhi.

Calling Manjhi a "betrayer", Yadav said that he had left no other option.

"When the history of betrayal will be written, Manjhi's name will be the first in it. He went to the extent of criticising the decision of party president and said that the latter had no power to call the meeting of the legislature party.