Manjhi seeks secret ballot to prove majority

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday said he was ready to prove his majority in the assembly and requested Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi to allow secret ballot for it.

"I am not running away. I am ready to prove my majority in the state assembly whenever Governor Tripathi invites me for it," Manjhi told the media outside Raj Bhawan after he met Tripathi.

Terming the ongoing move to replace him "a conspiracy against a Mahadalit", he said he requested the governor to provide him the chance to prove his majority Feb 19, 20 or 23. The assembly session will begin Feb 20.

He, however, said it was for the governor to decide.

Manjhi said he informed Tripathi that the re-election of Nitish Kumar as the Janata Dal-United legislature party leader was "illegal and unconstitutional".

"Nitish Kumar is not a member of the Bihar legislative Assembly, so how can he be re-elected leader of the legislature party? Nitish Kumar is a member of the legislative council," he said.