Bihar power politics : Guv defends decision on trust vote

13 Feb , Patna

Virtually rejecting the allegation leveled by JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar ,Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has defended his decision to ask Manjhi government to prove its majority in the state assembly on February 20 .

In a statement issued last night, Raj Bhawan said, as per constitution a Governor has to address the joint session of the Legislature at its commencement each year and in 2015 the session starts on the 20th February.

The statement said, it will not be proper to ask for a Special Session before the opening session as in that case he would end-up addressing the 2nd session. In this regard, Raj Bhawan has cited special powers of the Governor under Article 176 of the Constitution.

Raj Bhawan said the Governor had gone by the rule book and taken the Supreme Court observation in the SR Bommai case. Raj Bhawan had also made it clear that Jitan Ram Manjhi, being the JD(U) Legislature Party leader, was the leader of the House as he has not resigned and claims to probe his majority on the floor of the House.

On Thursday, JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar had accused the Union Government of pursuing the Bihar Governor into giving Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi a long time to prove his majority so that MLAs could be lured.

Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is encouraging horse-trading in Bihar, Kumar said that what is happenng in Bihar was written after Manjhi met the Prime Ministeer in New Delhi last week . MLAs are being offered ministerial berths and even BJP tickets , he alleged.