Nitish Kumar repeals Manjhi govt's populist decisions

Bengaluru, Mar 5: In another set back for deposed Chief Minister of Bihar Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Nitish Kumar government on Wednesday repealed all the decisions taken at the last three Cabinet meetings by the preceding Manjhi regime.

Before Manjhi tendered his resignation, he had taken some populist measures at the Cabinet meetings on February 10, 18 and 19.

According to reports, all decisions taken by cabinet on that three days have been revoked.

Cabinet Principal Secretary B. Pradhan told the media that all decisions made on those days failed to meet the requirement as they were made orally without proper clearing or paper trails.

""All those proposals, however, will be put up again before the Cabinet for consideration in accordance with the rules," Pradhan added.

Manjhi had taken 34 decisions on February 10, 18 and 19, before his resignation on 20th.

Among his contentious decisions, Manjhi had approved proposal to increase reservation to women in the non-gazetted government jobs, increase in the salary of the Home Guards and quota for OBCs and EBCs in government contracts. Other decisions include: raise in MLA development fund from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore; increase in the wages of mid-day meal cooks, an extra month salary to policemen, increase in the monthly stipend of Nyay Mitra and raise in the wages of the Vikas Mitra.

Janata Dal (U) leader Nitish Kumar said that the so populist measures by Manjhi has cost the state so far millions of rupees and added that the state Cabinet is rescinding the 34 decisions on a variety of technical reasons.

Nitish Kumar's decision is another big jolt for dalit leader Manjhi, who broke away with JD (U) and floated his own political front - Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on February 28 to counter Nitish Kumar.

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