Nitish backers meet President Mukherjee ,urge for a swift solution to the political crisis in Bihar
11 Feb New Delhi
The 130 MLA supporting Nitish Kumar as their leader in the Bihar Assembly met the President of India Pranab Mukherjee in the evening and urged him to ask Bihar Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi to find out early solution of the current deadlock in the state.
A delegation comprised of JD (U), RJD, Congress, CPI under the leadership of Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also met the President and handed over a memorandum claiming support of 130 MLAs.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said, “ we apprised the President the political situation in the wake of the delay on the part of the Governor to take decision in convening special session of assembly for floor test . Mukherjee assured the delegation that he will look into it”.
Kumar said he enjoys full majority of 130 MLAs in Bihar and inordinate delay in government formation is not appropriate.
He said, due to the delay, the environment in the state is getting fouled and horse-trading is being facilitated.
Kumar also said that it is not proper to wait for the forthcoming budget session which is scheduled to start from 20th of this month for floor test, but immediately a special session of the assembly should be convened for the purpose.
Kumar also hit out at BJP alleging that it wants to bifurcate the JD(U) and it is willing to impose President rule in Bihar.
On the occasion, RJD Chief Lalu Prasad said they have full majority and they are expecting the Governor to take an early decision on the current political crisis. There is power tussle between JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for the top post in the state. Kumar is claiming the support of majority of party legislators. Earlier, the MLAs assembled at Sharad Yadav’s residence in the national capital and they were taken to Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Earlier in the day Patna High Court had stayed Nitish Kumar’s election as the leader of the legislature party. The Court has also stayed the operation of the notification issued by the Bihar Assembly Speaker Udai Nrayan Choudhary who had given recognition to election of Nitish Kumar as leader of the legislature party in the state assembly. The court listed the case for further hearing on February 18th.
Rajeshwar Raj, a party MLA and supporter of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, had filed a PIL against election of Nitish Kumar as leader of the JD(U) legislature party. Raj has termed as illegal the meeting of JD(U) legislative party in which Nitish Kumar was elected as the leader, removing Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.