JD(U) legislature party meet illegal, not quitting: Jitan Ram Manjhi

PATNA: Signalling a rebellion against his mentor Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has said Saturday’s Legislature Party meeting of the Janata Dal (United) was unauthorised while also ruling out that he was quitting.

“The right to call a legislature party meeting rests with leader of the legislature party. The notice of meeting called on February 7 is not an authorised one,” he said in a statement. As chief minister Manjhi is JDLP leader. “Mukhya Mantri ke istiphe ki khabar bebuniyad hain iska khandan kiya jata hain (news about resignation of CM is baseless, it’s denied),” a terse statement in Hindi issued by CM’s Office said.

Earlier in the evening, news spread about a meeting of JD(U) legislature party called by JD(U) president Sharad Yadav on S at u rd ay evening. “A meeting of JD(U) legislature party has been called on February 7 on the direction of party president Sharad Yadav,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shrawan Kumar said. Asked about the agenda of the meeting, Shrawan Kumar, Chief Whip of JD(U) in the legislative assembly, said it would discuss the latest political situation.

After returning to state capital from Jehanabad on Thursday evening, Manjhi was closeted with his close supporters regarding the late evening development. After the meeting with some ministers and legislators, Manjhi’s office released the statement describing the legislature party meet as “unauthorised”.

The development reflects confrontational condition within JD(U) and a clearcut approach of Manjhi not to go without a fight.