Patna: Amid reports of power tussle between Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Nitish Kumar, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav today went to ailing Kumar's house and called CM there reportedly to hammer their differences. Sources close to Kumar confirmed arrival of Sharad Yadav and later on Manjhi at Kumar's 7 Circular Road bungalow.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad has also reached there. Kumar is suffering from fever due to which he did not attend Makar Sankranti feast hosted by state JD(U) chief Basistha Narayan Singh as well by the RJD chief yesterday.
Sources said that before arriving at Kumar's residence, Sharad Yadav had gone to meet Lalu Prasad. The interactions among senior leaders assume significance in view of reports of infighting within JD(U) due to power tussle between Kumar and Manjhi.
Though Kumar and Manjhi are not speaking against each other in public, sources in the party suggest disquiet triggered by Manjhi flexing his muscles. Recently he transferred several senior IAS officials including Principal Home Secretary Amir Subhani who served on the position all along during Kumar time, and posted officials belonging to SC/ST in pursuance of his playing “Dalit card.”
Manjhi's assertions on rebel JD(U) MLAs whose memberships were restored by Patna High Court recently added fuel to fire. There was speculation that Kumar during his recent visit to New Delhi had tried to impress leaders like Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav to remove Manjhi but the fire was doused somehow. BJP has been trying to capitalise on power tussle between Manjhi and Kumar.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today sided with Manjhi and hinted party coming in support of Manjhi if he was removed from the post by Nitish Kumar camp.
