Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi may recommend the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly.
Sources close to Manjhi-camp indicated that if Janata Dal (United) top leadership force the Chief Minister to step dowm paving the way for much-awaited anointment of Nitish Kumar, the former may dissolve the House.
Sources also revealed that Manjhi may drop ministers loyal to Nitish Kumar before the proposed February 7 legislature party meeting which he has termed as ‘illegal'.
The Chief Minister has now called legislature party meet on February 20 at his official residence.
“The right to call legislature party meeting rests with leader of the legislature party (Chief Minister). The notice of meeting called on February 7 is not an authorised one,” he said yesterday night in a statement.
Reports also suggested that at least 25 MLAs are backing Manjhi and would vote for him if needed.
Senior JD(U) leader Shakuni Chaudhary, believed to be close to Manjhi, said, “Manjhi is fire. Whoever tries to touch him would burn his hands.”
Earlier, reports had emerged that Kumar will take the charge before February 15, replacing incumbent Jitan Ram Manjhi. The change in guard is aimed at garnering more public support in the run up to the assembly elections in the state, due to be held in November-December this year.
Manjhi was handpicked by Nitish for the top job after party's debacle in Lok Sabha polls in the state.
