Lalu Prasad's proximity to CM Jitan Ram Manjhi makes things difficult for Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Arguably, the RJD chief Lalu Prasad has moved closer to the chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the run of events which have only complicated the problems for the JD(U) leader Nitsh Kumar. While Kumar would have hoped that Lalu would back and help him replace Manjhi who was acting independently and taking decisions unilaterally, but things did not fall in place much to his liking. According to sources close to Kumar, Lalu had initially assured him that he would side with him if he decided to remove Manjhi.

"The merger of the JD(U) and RJD would have given birth to a new party which then would have elected a new legislature party leader in place of Manjhi. While Nitishji was keen on wrapping the merger process, the RJD chief, however, threw a spanner in the merger process saying the merger should be one time affair involving all the six constituents of the Janata Parivar" a JD(U) functionary told ET. The buzz is that Manjhi has managed to secure his position because of the RJD chief who is known to be extending tacit support to him besides even declaring that his position as CM was safe and secure.

"Laluji has now started calling up the officials. He even spoke to the DGP regarding transfer and posting of a few of his favourite IPS officials. He even quoted the CM saying he had also spoken to him over the reshuffle," a top source in the state police headquarters told ET.