Bihar drama: Patna High Court stays all decisions taken by Manjhi since February 7

Mangalore Today News Network

Patna, February 16, 2015: The Patna High Court on Monday stayed all the decisions taken by Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi since February 7. Manjhi’s party, the ruling Janata Dal-United, had expelled him for six years on February 9 for anti-party activities and asked him to step down.

Meanwhile, a defiant Manjhi on Monday denied having any intention of dissolving the Bihar Assembly or recommending President’s rule in the state. "I have no intention of dissolving the assembly or recommending President’s rule," Manjhi, who is in New Delhi, said.

Asked if he is in the New Delhi to meet any Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Manjhi said, "I am not meeting BJP leaders. I am meeting ministers of central government. It is upto them ( BJP) to support or not support me." The BJP, which earlier backed Manjhi, has now decided to withdraw from the ongoing Bihar drama.

However, Nitish Kumar, who the JD-U wanted to return as Bihar chief minister, has repeatedly alleged that the BJP was behind the move to allow Manjhi more time to prove his majority so that "horse-trading" of the MLAs could be done. Last week, Kumar had paraded about 130 MLAs before President Pranab Mukherjee, demanding his intervention.

Manjhi was hand-picked by Nitish Kumar to replace him after the JD-U faced a rout in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Kumar had resigned owning moral responsibility of his party’s performance.

Courtesy: Indiatoday