A minor setback for former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as the Patna High Court stayed his recognition as the JD(U) Legislature Party leader, granted by the Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhry.
“We intend to examine the legal implication of the letter issued by in-charge Secretary of Assembly (recognising Nitish Kumar as leader of JD(U) Legislature Party) so that the letter should have no legal consequences for a decision by the Governor,” a HC bench said on Wednesday, giving a temporary breather to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Meanwhile, Bihar Governor KN Tripathi has given Manjhi a nod for a vote of confidence on February 20, rejecting Nitish Kumar’s claim that he had support of majority legislators.
The political crisis in Bihar took place last week as the chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi refused to resign from his post and the party elected Nitish Kumar for the top job. JD (U) already fired Manjhi as their legislature party chief and Kumar paraded 128 legislators in front of President Pranab Mukherjee to prove his majority.
“We want an immediate decision. The delay is polluting the atmosphere and encouraging horse-trading,” Kumar told reporters.
Attacking Governor Tripathi’s decision to give Manjhi time, Shyam Rajak, a former JDU minister, said, “He (Mr Tripathi) will be reading out an address prepared by a Chief Minister who is supported by only 12 lawmakers.”
“The Governor is virtually following a BJP script. This decision is going to galvanise the non-BJP parties,” Rajak added.
Meanwhile, BJP has been busy, maintaining distance from JD (U) fiasco.
“Hopefully they will not divert their problem to the BJP,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
(With input from NDTV)
Tags: Bihar Jitan Ram Manjhi Nitish Kumar Trust vote Vote of Confidence
