Crisis deepens in JD(U) as Manjhi puts down foot against Nitish

A statement from the Chief Minister's house said on Friday that the JD(U) Legislature Party meeting Manjhi has called will be held at his residence on February 20.

Earlier, the party's national President Sharad Yadav had called a Legislature Party meeting for February 7 which Manjhi readily rejected, saying the right to call such meetings rests with the leader of the Legislature Party or the Chief Minister.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the CM's office had declared that Manjhi would not attend the meeting, called by Yadav. "The CM who is empowered to convene such a meeting and since he has not called for it, he will stay away," the statement had said.

However,. JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi has described the Legislature Party meeting called by the party President as “valid”. He says according to JD(U) constitution, the President has the power to call a meeting of Legislature Party.

Manjhi had been sulking at the attempt being made by a section of party high ups for some time  to ensure handover of the Chief Minister's post from him back to Nitish Kumar, who quit the post of Chief Minister nine months ago after the party was mauled in the last Lok Sabha polls.

The party faces the crisis in the run up to the coming Assembly elections, scheduled to be held later this year. Those backing up Nitish Kumar feel that the party needs to project him before polls as the 'face of development' to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The BJP has said it will keep a “wait and watch” approach over the situation and will keep all options open.”

The JD(U),which has become a minority government is running the show on the basis of the support from Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal. The RJD chief  has already given the green signal for Nitish’s return as Bihar CM, saying it’s a “JD (U) prerogative”.

Manjhi, whose acts of praising Narnedra Modi more than once has raised the eyebrows of many in the political circle has received support from the NDA camp with Lok Janshakti Party President Ramvilas Paswan saying that "no power can remove Manjhi."

Manjhi, who represents the backward class, especially dalits  in the caste-driven political scene in Bihar, is also said to be in command of considerable support within the party.