Patna: Sharad Yadav, the national president of Janata Dal United (JDU), has lashed out at Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for causing a crisis in the state and the party by impulsively recommending dissolution of the Legislative Assembly.
Claiming support of 130 MLAs, JD(U) national President Sharad Yadav said, "Manjhi ne thaali mein chhed kiya. (Manjhi has bit the hand that fed him). Today when he tried to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, I said he had done a wrong thing. What else he could have done? He has wronged the party."
He was addressing the legislators inside the state Assembly premises after the JD(U) Legislature Party (JDLP) elected Nitish Kumar as its new leader.
"I have been talking, trying since early morning for a peaceful solution to the political situation that had come before our party. I tried with Kumar, Manjhi and supporters of both leaders who can participate in the Legislature Party meeting. I never gave statement against anybody," Yadav said.
"After two hours of discussion, Manjhi said he would let us know after one hour. We were trying to save the party and maintain our unity, and this is what he did. Now the party will decide. It won't stop," he said.
Yadav, however, did not specify what kind of disciplinary action the party was contemplating against Mr Manjhi.
Yadav also appealed to those JD(U) leaders who went away to return to the party fold as a "decision for struggle and fight" from Patna to New Delhi has been taken and it would continue till "breath is left in his body".
"There is danger in our country, but we have the weapon of unity against it. Fights happen, but institutions should be respected. I appeal to our friends who have gone away to come back. We have taken a decision for struggle and fight from Patna to New Delhi," he said.
Yadav said that the Congress and RJD expressed support for his party in the current situation.
Yadav is also expected to talk to the Governor tonight and take an appointment to stake claim to form a new government under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.
Mr Manjhi, meanwhile, went to Delhi, where he is to attend the Niti Ayog meeting, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek chief ministers' feedback on the budget and Central projects.
But there are speculations that he might meet the BJP Central leaders. Lately, Mr Manjhi had signaled that if he was forced out of office, crossing over to the BJP was a viable option. (with inputs from PTI)
