Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi may recommend the dissolution of the House today after chairing the Cabinet meet slated for 2 pm.
Reports suggested that Manjhi wants to dissolve the House ahead of a Legislature party meeting called by Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav for announcing the anointment of Nitish Kumar as Bihar CM, replacing the incumbent one.
State Industries Minister Bhim Singh said, “Jitan Ram Manjhi has not committed any crime that he should be removed from the post. If Nitish Kumar becomes the Chief Minister, it would be very shameful for all.”
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Before the Cabinet meet, Manjhi will meet Kumar at his residence. JD(U) top brass Sharad Yadav, Narendra Singh and Brishan Patel are likely to attend the meet.
Food Minister Shyam Rajak, a close confidant of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said that he was not aware of the Cabinet meeting. “But, if there is a meeting I will go because till the date Manjhi is the CM,” he said.
JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said that Niish Kumar will be elected at today's JD(U) Legislature party meeting to take over the reins from Manjhi. “Nitish Kumar is the first and the last choice for choosing new leader of party in the assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CMO in a release said that Manjhi will inaugurate a seminar organized by Bihar Foundation in Patna and depart for Delhi at 5 PM to attend a meet of NITI Aayog.
Earlier, Manjhi had termed the Legislature party meet called by Sharad ‘illegal'. “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 had said.
Yesterday, the Chief Minister recommended to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi dismissal of two of his ministers considered close to former chief minister Nitish Kumar. Highly-placed sources said Manjhi sent recommendation to dismiss two ministers - Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan and PK Shahi - to the Governor, saying their activities were not in the best interest of the government.
Manjhi was handpicked by Nitish for the top job after party's debacle in Lok Sabha polls in the state.
