Jitan Ram Manjhi shunts Nitish Kumar's pet babus, split now wide open

PATNA: The simmering hostility between Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and JD(U) strongman Nitish Kumar had exploded on January 20 when a war of words broke out in the Cabinet between Kumar's loyal ists and Manjhi's backers over the issue of transfer of bureaucrats ordered by the CM on January 9.

Senior ministers like P K Shahi, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan objected to the “arbitrary“ transfer of babus considered close to Kumar, citing the CM's refusal to use the civil service board (CSB) established by Kumar for precisely the purpose of transfers and postings when he was the CM, early in 2014.

The growing antagonism between the Kumar and Manjhi camps has meant that even officials of the CSB are tightlipped about whether their offices were informed about the transfer of Kumar's preferred bureaucrats.

Countering the charge against Manjhi was minister Bhim Singh, who until recently was seen as a Kumar groupie. He surprised many by speaking in favour of the CM saying Manjhi is empowered to transfer officers as per the rule of executive business.