JD(U) expels Jitan Ram Manjhi, demands trust vote in 48 hours

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.

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.

JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said, "The party has expelled Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi."

"He made comments that amounted to gross indiscipline against the party president. There was no way left other than to expel him from the party," Tyagi said releasing the expulsion letter.

Responding to questions, Tyagi said that Manjhi is now "neither a leader of the JD(U) legislative party nor a member of the party."

Accusing the BJP of trying to create a "constitutional crisis" in Bihar, Tyagi said the JD(U) "requests the Bihar Governor to hold a trial of strength in the state Assembly within 48 hours."

Manjhi was part of Nitish Kumar government in 2005 as well as in 2010 before taking the mantle from him on May 19 last year after Kumar had resigned following a crushing defeat to his party by Narendra Modi-led BJP in Lok Sabha polls.

Manjhi, who has rebelled and is all prepared for a final showdown with mentor Nitish Kumar, has arrived in Patna from New Delhi, where he had Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The power struggle in Bihar JD(U) escalated as Manjhi ruled out his resignation before a trial of strength in the Assembly.

JD(U) on Sunday submitted letters of support from the RJD, Congress, CPI and an independent MLA to the Governor claiming that Nitish had the backing of 130 MLAs in a 243-member House.

Meanwhile, BJP on Sunday virtually put its weight behind Manjhi saying he looks confident of proving his majority.

BJP also said that the majority has to be proved on the floor of the Assembly and not in any party's office as it accused Nitish of being "hungry for power". 

"We haven't taken any decision yet but we are sure that Jitan Ram Manjhi who is the Chief Minister, according to his statements, is very confident and Nitish Numar's pavilion looks very disappointed," BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

A day ago, to discuss the political situation in the state, Manjhi had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence.

Manjhi, who was sacked as the JD-U legislature party leader at a meeting of the party's MLA's on Saturday, shot back when asked about his fate, saying "Manjhi ki nao kabhi nahin dubti hain (Manjhi's boat never sinks)" but declined to make any further comment.

However, Ruling out his resignation without a trial of strength in Assembly,Manjhi had said that he will prove his majority on the floor of the House or step down if he fails, and attacked Nitish Kumar for his "greed for power".

A section of RJD MLAs in Bihar were in disagreement with party chief Lalu Prasad's decision to back Nitish Kumar to re-assume chief ministership and are rooting for the beleagured Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.

In the 243-member assembly, JD(U) has 111 MLAs, BJP 87, RJD 24, Congress 5 besides 5 independents, while ten seats are vacant. With the present effective strength of the assembly at 233, the magic figure is 117.