Jitan Ram Manjhi resigns as Bihar Chief Minister ahead of trust vote
Patna: Facing apparent defeat, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi resigned on Friday. Hours ahead of the trust vote, Manjhi submitted his resignation to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.
Manjhi has submitted his resignation, Principal Secretary to Governor Brajesh Mehrotra said. Asked about the content, Mehrotra said it was a one-line statement. Manjhi sprang a surprise by making an unscheduled visit to Raj Bhawan around 10 am. He returned to his One Anne Marg residence after a brief 15-minute meeting with the Governor.
Manjhi's sudden decision apparently follows his realisation that he does not have the numbers to prove the majority. Manjhi, who rebelled against Nitish Kumar, was expelled by JD(U) and was to prove his majority after the Governor's address.
Even, the BJP had issued a whip to its 87 legislators to vote in favour of Manjhi government. However, even BJP’s support would not help him touch the half way mark in the assembly at 117 after JD(U) and its allies like RJD and Congress rallied behind Nitish Kumar.
New JD(U) Legislature party leader Nitish Kumar said Manjhi's resignation has vindicated his plea to the Governor that not much time be given for the trust vote.
"Our stand has been vindicated," he told reporters at the Assembly premises.
"Everything is happening after 14 days, that also surprisingly," Kumar said adding, "the BJP game plan has been exposed".
The current strength of the Assembly is 233, and in order to remain Chief Minister Mr Manjhi needs the support of 117, but according to reports he now has the support of only 12 JD(U) MLAs, 87 from the BJP after the announcement, eight from the RJD camp, and four Independent MLAs.
On the other hand, Nitish Kumar has the support of 99 JD(U) legislators, 24 from RJD, five from Congress, one from the CPI and one Independent, that add up to 130, which is 13 above the halfway mark.
“People will give a befitting reply to Nitish Kumar. We are not worried, we are aware how things work in JD(U) and especially with Nitish Kumar. He has played his game”, Rameshwar Chaurasia, a senior BJP leader said.
JD(U) leaders said they would soon be attending a meeting after the official announcement to discuss the future course of action.
Earlier, JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI MLAs and one Independent legislator supporting Nitish had decided to boycott the Governor's speech in the joint session of Bihar Legislature.
The decision to boycott the Governor's speech was to register protest at his action of not hearing Nitish Kumar's plea to ask Manjhi to prove his majority in 48 hours and instead giving him 14 days time which "facilitated horse trading," JD(U) Chief Whip Shrawan Kumar said.
