PM Modi blessed political crisis in Bihar: JD (U)

Amid the ongoing political tussle in Bihar, Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi on Monday alleged that this crisis was scripted in Delhi and had the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Bihar crisis was scripted in Delhi. Operation Jitan Ram Manjhi has been engineered by (BJP chief) Amit Shah and it has PM Modi's blessings. Yesterday, the tone that Manjhi had used after meeting the PM cannot be that of a minority chief minister," said Tyagi.

Tyagi further said that his party would point out to Bihar Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi that incumbent Jitan Ram Manjhi does not enjoy the majority support.

Meanwhile, JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar, who has been chosen as the chief ministerial nominee, arrived at the Raj Bhavan in Patna to meet the Bihar Governor and stake a claim to form the government in the state.

Manjhi, who has refused to resign as the Bihar Chief Minister, was earlier in the day expelled by JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav.

The action against Manjhi, who had earlier on Sunday met Prime Minister Modi in the national capital, came after the JD (U) accused him of anti-party activities.

Kumar will be submitting letters of support from 130 MLAs, including those from the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), to the Governor.

In the 243 member Bihar Assembly, the JD (U) has 111 MLAs, BJP 87, RJD 24, Congress five besides five independents, while ten seats are vacant.

With the present effective strength of the assembly at 233, the magic majority figure is 117.