Bihar political deadlock: 'Defiant' Manjhi calls on Nitish

A meeting between Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his predecessor Nitish Kumar is currently underway at the latter's residence.

This meeting comes at a time when speculations are rife that Manjhi will be sacked by the Janata Dal (United), with a view of reinstating Nitish Kumar to the top post.

Earlier, Manjhi had sent a recommendation to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to sack two state cabinet ministers, Lallan Singh and P. K. Shahi, who are reportedly close to Nitish Kumar and also supporting the removal of Manjhi from his chief ministerial post.

According to the reports, JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav is expected to ask Manjhi to step down from his post in a meeting to be held later in the day.

Meanwhile, JD (U) leader Neeraj Kumar Babloo came out in support of Manjhi.

"If Manjhi ji decides to take the support of the BJP, we are ready. Whatever decision Manjhi ji takes, we will support him," Babloo said.

Manjhi, who has embarrassed his party on several occasions during his short tenure as chief minister, earlier declared a meeting called tomorrow by party chief Sharad Yadav as 'illegal'.

Manjhi, who contends that only the chief minister can call a meeting of MLAs, has called one such meeting for February 20.

Nitish, who had resigned as the chief minister owning responsibility for his party getting only two of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats, had handpicked Manjhi to take his place.