The ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has 117 legislators and it was supported by one CPI legislator, two Independent legislators, four Congress legislators and 21 RJD legislators.
Manjhi was Monday named by outgoing chief minister Nitish Kumar after he was authorised by the JD-U legislature party to select a new leader.
Manjhi - from the Mushahar community - was SC/ST welfare minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. He is legislator from the Makhdoompur assembly constituency.
