Bihar power play: Manjhi finally bows out, Nitish comes in
Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister on February 22
Patna: Former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar regained Bihar’s crown after Jitan Ram Manjhi quit the post on Friday. Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar met Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and staked his claim to form the next government in the state.
Nitish is set to take oath as the Chief Minister on February 22.
Earlier, Manjhi realizing that he has been left alone drove straight to Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi. His resignation was accepted.
It is believed that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad helped Nitish to regain power only after he agreed to have Misa Bharti (Lalu’s eldest daughter) as Deputy CM.
Hours later Manjhi resigned Nitish Kumar who had foisted the Dalit leader to rule over the state in the aftermath of humiliating defeat of his party-JD [U] in the Lok Sabha polls, met the Governor and staked claim to form the government. He was accompanied by the coalition partners including RJD and Congress.
A smiling Kumar announced that the governor convinced with our earlier claims asked us to form the next government. “It has been decided that I will take oath on Sunday at 5 pm”. He reiterated that “in the current scenario though there is no need to seek trust vote as asked by the governor he will do so. He has been given time till 16 March to call the assembly session where I will be seeking vote of confidence. Only after that the governor will address the house”.
While apologizing to the people for having resigned from the post earlier, he promised that he would strengthen the good governance in the state.
“Please forgive me; I made a mistake by resigning after the Lok Sabha polls. I will not make emotional decisions in future” Nitish Kumar told the people.
