Manjhi in Delhi to attend NITI Aayog meeting

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi reached Delhi Saturday to attend a meeting of the governing council of the NITI Aayog even as the ruling Janata Dal-United in the state is grappling with a deep political crisis.

A state government official told IANS that Manjhi reached Delhi Saturday night to attend the meeting of the NITI Aayog to be held Sunday.

In the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to seek views of chief ministers on a series of issues including the forthcoming budget and infrastructure projects.

Manjhi had earlier in the day recommended dissolution of the state assembly against the view of a majority of his cabinet colleagues even as his predecessor Nitish Kumar was elected the legislature party chief, signalling he could be at the state's helm again.

Bihar minister Narendra Singh, who is considered close to Manjhi, has said they would take support from the BJP to run the government if there was such a need.

Modi Saturday met BJP leaders to review the political situation in Bihar.

Sources said the BJP leadership was carefully weighing its options in Bihar where it wants to come to power in the assembly polls scheduled later this year.