Nitish Kumar to take the reins again? Jitan Ram Manjhi likely to be replaced as Bihar CM

Bihar, Jan 19:Amid reports of many ministers being unhappy, now some reports are also saying that Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is likely to be replaced by Nitish Kumar in the next few days.

If reports are to be believed then, this decision is being backed by the JD(U) and Nitish will likely replace Manjhi by the end of this week.

Hinting at an internal squabble within the JD(U), senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was insulted by the ruling party workers at the behest of his predecessor Nitish Kumar.

"Chief Minister Manjhi was being insulted by some JD(U) leaders at the behest of his predecessor Nitish Kumar for visiting the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's estranged brother- in-law Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav's house for feast," he said in a statement.

Manjhi's visit to the house of Sadhu Yadav, controversial brother-in-law of RJD President Lalu Prasad, during Makar Sankranti festivities had raked up a controversy with the JD(U) saying that Manjhi should shun such activities which gives a bad name to the party and the government.

Infighting continues in JD(U)

Infighting continues in ruling JD(U) in Bihar with many ministers complaining against party spokesman Ajay Alok for seeking resignation of three ministers but he remained unrepentant. JD(U) sources today said senior minister Narendra Singh, among the three whose resignation was sought by Alok, met senior party leader Nitish Kumar last night and complained against him.

Singh, who is the state agriculture minister and reportedly siding with Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the power tussle with Kumar, met him at his residence for over an hour. He also spoke to JD(U) President Sharad Yadav over the issue, the sources said. Alok on the other hand stood his ground.

"Government is formed by a party but there is no party of the government ... I am spokesman of JD(U) and not the government," he said and refused to withdraw his demand seeking resignation of the three ministers. The spokesman said though one of the three ministers (Narendra Singh) had complained against him to Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav "He has at least spoken on the subject reaffirming faith in the party...but what about the rest two ? Kya we ghora bech kar so rahe hai (are they sleeping peacefully)."

Bihar JD(U) President Basistha Narayan Singh, who is in Delhi said on Monday that he would talk to the party members after reaching Patna to impose a strict discipline in the party. He said Sharad Yadav had spoken to him and expressed concern over 'mud slinging' within JD(U) and instructed that it be checked immediately.

Two other ministers whose resignations were sought along with Singh for their alleged proximity with BJP are Brishen Patel and Nitish Mishra and three ministers Mahachandra Prasad Singh, Baidyanath Sahni and Javed Iqbal Ansari have rebuked Alok for it.

Another spokesman Neeraj Kumar had expressed objection to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi attending Makar Sankranti feast at the residence of Sadhu Yadav, controversial and estranged brother in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad. In the midst of expressions of anger by JD(U) ministers and leaders, a minister Jai Kumar Singh and a senior legislator Manjit Kumar Singh have demanded Nitish Kumar to once again assume charge of chief ministership 'without loss of time'.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)