Patna: Ending suspense on its stand, BJP today announced it will back Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and vote in his favour if the trust vote is taken up in the Assembly tomorrow.
BJP has issued whip to its MLAs to vote for Manjhi during the trial of strength, senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters here.
Sushil Modi, who was flanked by state BJP leader Mangal Pandey and BJP Legislature Party leader Nand Kishore Yadav, said the party will neither join the Manjhi government nor take initiative to form a government on its own. The announcement came after a two-day BJP LP meeting at Sushil Modi's residence.
Taking the high moral ground, he said BJP's support to Manjhi was aimed at avenging the insult meted out by Nitish Kumar to the mahadalit community, the poorest among dalits.
Favouring a secret vote tomorrow, he said, “Only secret voting can ensure justice for the poor people of Bihar.” BJP has 87 MLAs in the Assembly. The magic figure is 117 in the Assembly, whose effective strength at present is 233.
