Supporters of Manjhi, Nitish clash in Patna

Amid the ongoing political friction within the Janata Dal (United), the supporters of Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his predecessor Nitish Kumar clashed here on Friday.

A policeman was also beaten up in the feud, which took place outside the JD (U) office here.

The ;attest development in this regard comes amid reports that JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav may ask incumbent Manjhi to step down from his post in a meeting to be held tomorrow.

Senior JD (U) leaders want Nitish to lead the party yet again in the run-up to the elections due in the state later this year.

Manjhi, who has embarrassed his party on several occasions during his short tenure as the Chief Minister, earlier declared a meeting called tomorrow by party chief Sharad Yadav as 'illegal'. Manjhi, who has contended that only the Chief Minister can call the 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.