Patna HC restores membership of four rebel JD(U) MLAs

PATNA: The Patna High court on Tuesday restored the membership of four disqualified MLAs upsetting the JD(U) leadership which was not bargaining for such a development. What was even intriguing for JD(U)'s top brass, Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi seemed unguarded in his reaction as he welcomed the verdict, and also made sure to embarrass the party leadership with his statement that the MLAs could have been let off with some less harsher punishment instead of seeking termination of their membership.

The chief minister has been known for courting controversies with statements which have often not gone down well with the party leadership. On Tuesday too, he went as far taking a different view from the party leadership which had pressed for the termination of the membership of the four dissident legislators in the Speaker's court but Manjhi made it public saying he prescribed for some lenient punishment.

Speaker Udai Narain Choudhary had terminated their membership on grounds of anti party activities.