Bihar JD(U) may split as CM Manjhi resists Nitish Kumar return

New Delhi/Patna: In an ironic twist of fate, the move to bring Nitish Kumar back as Bihar’s Chief Minister may lie at the door of former BJP leader Keshari Nath Tripathi, who now holds additional charge as the state’s governor. The state’s ruling JD(U) also appears to be headed for a split, with Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi spurning the bid spearheaded by party chief Sharad Yadav for a smooth change of guard.

After getting wind of Mr Manjhi’s plans to seek the dissolution of the state Assembly, the JD(U) chief hurriedly shot off a letter to Mr Tripathi on Friday evening, saying Mr Manjhi no longer enjoyed the legislature party’s confidence and his pleas should not be entertained.

Manjhi may call a Cabinet meeting soon to approve his move to ask the Governor for a dissolution. The CM appears to have the open support of at least five ministers, and three more are waiting for an opportune moment to break ranks with Kumar, sources claimed.

With the JD(U) heading for a split, the move to get Mr Kumar back as CM seems to have boomeranged, with supporters of both camps clashing on Patna’s streets on Friday. Mr Manjhi has vowed not to quit, and has called senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP K.C. Tyagi a “yamdoot” (messenger of death). He also took potshots at Mr Kumar, calling him a “Bhisma Pitamah,” and wondering why was he was keeping quiet.

Manjhi and a few of his ministerial supporters and scores of MLAs plan to skip the legislature party meeting called by Mr Yadav on Saturday, terming it “illegal” and “unconstitutional.”

“I am the CM, and only I have the authority to call a meeting of legislature party,” said Mr Manjhi, who is supported by Cabinet ministers Narendra Singh and Nitish Mishra.

With the turn of events in Patna making Mr Tripathi an arbiter in the turf war, the NDA government at the Centre may have to take a decision, with Union home minister Rajnath Singh likely to play a key role. Observers feel Mr Tripathi may go by the imepnding Bihar Cabinet decision to dissolve the Assembly and allow Mr Manjhi to continue as CM till the elections.