Chief Minister closeted with supporters for floor test

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has cancelled all of his official programmes and has been closeted with ministers and legislators to draw up the strategy for the February 20 trust vote.

Manjhi today returned from New Delhi, where he tried to garner support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He did not take any question from mediapersons at Patna airport and went straight to his official residence.

In addition to cancelling two functions here, he also called off his visit to Khagaria, Chief Minister Office sources said. State Art and Culture minister Vinay Bihari, who received Manjhi at the airport re-asserted that the government would win the trust vote. He told,"We are confident of proving majority on the floor of House on February 20."

He said "Our talks with senior BJP leaders in Delhi have been positive." Dissident JD(U) leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, who met Manjhi at his residence also exuded confidence of sailing through the confidence vote. "We will get it. Good response has been coming from legislators," he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has refused to spell out its strategy before the confidence vote, but it has asked the Chief Minister to refrain from making financial and policy related decisions.

"We are still deliberating about the political condition. Whenever a decision would be made, we will inform you," said senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

He also added, "But till the time Manjhi proves his majority, we would suggest to the government that it should not take any financial or policy related decisions."