Bihar crisis: Ram Vilas Paswan pledges support to Manjhi

Says BJP might have a meeting over the issue

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday pledged support for Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi with regards to the ongoing political tussle in that state.

"We will support Manjhi ji's government and we will work together. The people of Bihar are suffering due to this crisis. The BJP might be having a meeting over the issue," Paswan told the media.

"No script is being written from Delhi. Nitish Kumar, Congress and Lalu Yadav are writing the script," he added.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Sumit Kumar Singh said that the supporters of Jitan Ram Manjhi were feeling 'threatened'.

"We are being threatened about the consequences of supporting Manjhi ji. To show a majority we have to come on the floor and we will make sure that we prove it there," said Singh.

Fellow JD (U) leader GS Gyanu echoed Singh's statement, adding that there is no chance for Nitish Kumar to be the chief minister.

Nitish, who was elected as the leader of JD (U) legislature party at a party meeting held in Patna yesterday, is expected to stake claim to form a new government in the state later in the day.

On Saturday evening, Manjhi called a meeting of the state cabinet, which authorised the Chief Minister to recommend the dissolution of Bihar Assembly. But this move was strongly opposed by 20 ministers loyal to former CM Nitish Kumar.

Manjhi claimed he is authorised to take a decision on dissolution of the assembly.

Manjhi, who has refused to step down from his post, had yesterday written a letter to the Bihar Governor and requested him not to accept the recommendations made by the JD (U) legislature party meeting headed by Sharad Yadav.

He also urged the Governor to remove 15 ministers from their posts with immediate effect.

Adding a new twist to the entire controversy, 20 ministers on Saturday night sent their resignation to the Governor in support of Nitish.

Meanwhile, Manjhi is expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence later in the day.