Jitan Ram Manjhi bowls googly for BJP, resigns as Bihar CM; Nitish Kumar happy now!

Patna, Feb 20: Jitan Ram Manjhi now played a googly as he resigned as Bihar Chief Minister ahead of the scheduled crucial trust vote in the assembly in Patna on Friday, Feb 20.

While all MLAs including Nitish Kumar assembled at the Bihar assembly, Manjhi on Friday morning met the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and tendered his resignation. He is expected to hold a press conference later in the day.

Manjhi's decision would definitely please Nitish Kumar as now he can stake claim to form government in Bihar. However, his decision shocked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which had announced that the party would support Manjhi during the trust vote which now is no longer required.

BJP chief in Bihar -- Sushil Kumar Shinde earlier was quoted as saying that BJP wanted to ensure that Nitish Kumar's insult to a mahadalit "is not taken lying down."

Mahadalits played a crucial role in Bihar and the BJP was playing the same card by supporting Manjhi. Despite BJP's support, it was clear that BJP's 87 legislators would not help him touch the half way mark in the assembly at 117 during trust vote.

Nitish Kumar, the man who wants to be Chief Minister in Mr Manjhi's stead, has the support of 128 MLAs. His party the Janata Dal (United) or JD (U) has been granted the status of chief opposition today by the Bihar Speaker.

JD(U) expelled Manjhi when he refused to listen to the advices of the party and did not resign as CM. Manjhi did not allow the return of Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister.

OneIndia News