Nitish Kumar likely to replace Bihar CM Jitan Ram
posted on Feb 6, 2015 @ 11:19AM
Former Bihar State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who stepped down owing moral responsibility for the party defeat in the general elections, has offered his chair to his close aide Jitan Ram Manjhi in the last year. But, during Jitan Ram’s 9 months of ruling his party JD (U) and the government have faced several controversies. Assembly elections for Bihar are slated for later this year. Hence, Nitish Kumar wants to replace him, but Jitan Ram is not ready to return his chair.
However, Nitish Kumar convinces his JD (U) party president Sharad Yadav to summon a meeting with party MLAs to elect him as their party floor leader. But, Jitan Ram is strongly objecting for any such meeting with the MLAs by the party president. He argues that he alone can summon MLAs for such meetings and not the party president. He declared that he will revolt if forced to quit the CM Post.
Jitan Ram is heading a minority government backed by 24 MLAs of Laloo Prasad’s RJD and 5 MLAs of the Congress party. Currently, JD (U) has 111 MLAs strength in the Assembly. The magic figure to stay afloat is 122. CM Jitan Ram claims that around 35 to 40 MLAs are on his side. He warns that if Nitish Kumar tries to clinch his CM Chair, then he will break away from the party and form the government taking support BJP support.
He is reported to be assured of BJP’s 88 MLAs support by Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, who is also a minister in the NDA government. Hence, JD (U) is in dilemma whether to take this risk or not. But, Nitish Kumar is quite confident that all MLAs of his party will support him only. If so, RJD and the Congress parties are there to extend their support to his government. Hence, a tricky situation prevails in the JD (U). JD (U) leadership is negotiating with Jitan Ram and his supporters.