Parading MLAs in Rastrapati Bhavan does no good, says Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi

MATHURA: Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi today said here that presenting legislators in Rashtrapati Bhavan is a "wasteful exercise" and does no good, days after JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar paraded about 130 MLAs in Delhi and met President Pranab Mukherjee.

"The majority can only be tested in the House. Presenting legislators in Raj Bhavan or Rashtrapati Bhavan is a wasteful exercise as it may be a pressure tactics but it does no good," Tripathi told reporters.

"Since Bihar Cabinet has already fixed Assembly session from February 20, therefore I had also fixed the same date for deciding the majority.

"The session on February 20 will first decide who enjoys majority," he said.

Kumar on Wednesday paraded the MLAs in Delhi and met President Mukherjee demanding his intervention. Leaders from RJD, Congress, Samajwadi Party and the Left had accompanied him during the meeting.

The Governor claimed that no favour has been done to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi as Nitish was also given a week time earlier for proving the majority.

Earlier in Kanpur, the Governor said it is not right to indulge in political blame game over his decision to allow Manjhi to seek confidence vote on February 20 as he had acted in accordance with rules.

Tripathi remarks come in the backdrop of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar's allegation that the Governor under the Centre's pressure gave the incumbent Chief Minister a long time to prove his majority so that MLAs could be "lured".